Lucas DelCarmen Gomez, 39, truck driver, rescued Anna E. Barth, 65, from burning, San Francisco, California, November 19, 1965. At night fire broke out in the second-floor living room of the residence of Mrs. Barth. Gomez was attracted by flames issuing through windows which had been broken by the heat. After turning in a fire alarm, he ran to the building, ascended steps to the entrance, and tried to open the door, which was locked. He ran to an adjoining dwelling and roused the occupants. Learning that Mrs. Barth was inside, Gomez returned to the locked door and forced it open. Intense heat and dense smoke issued through the opening. Squatting, Gomez saw Mrs. Barth lying on the floor of the living room beneath the smoke. Obtaining a wet towel from the neighbor, Gomez draped it over his head and crawled into the apartment. He crawled 12 feet to Mrs. Barth,, whose clothing was afire. Flames extended from two walls and covered the entire ceiling. Gomez passed within inches of flames on the floor. Heat was very intense. He removed the towel and used it to pull away Mrs. Barth’s burning attire. He then placed the towel over her shoulders and face and pulled her toward the door, passing within a foot of flames on one wall. Gomez had dragged Mrs. Barth nearly to the door by the time a fireman and a policeman arrived. They aided Gomez in removing Mrs. Barth. She was hospitalized for extensive burns and recovered.
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