William E. Rimmel, who rescued Lance G. Cool and attempted to rescue Sean E. Cool from burning, Pittsburgh, Pa., June 22, 1972. Lance, aged 2, and Sean, aged 3, were in the basement of their home when fire broke out there. Their mother ran to the basement, saw only Lance, and attempted to remove him by way of a connecting garage; but he ran to another part of the basement, which by then was filled with dense smoke. The mother ran outside and called for help. Rimmel, aged 36, auto body shop owner, entered the burning basement. Another man then arrived and did likewise. An explosion, believed to have been a television set, occurred in the basement. Rimmel found Lance before the increasing heat and smoke forced the two men to leave. Rimmel and the other man then reentered the basement, but worsening conditions drove them out. Firemen arrived and, wearing masks, removed Sean, who was dead. Lance died later of extensive burns.
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