A mother called for help from the second-story window of her burning, Maricopa, Ariz., home Sept. 26, 2018. A 51-year-old power plant operator from Maricopa, Michael Hieronymus, was parked nearby when he saw smoke coming from the house and, as he approached, saw the mother. Despite heavy smoke and visible flames, Hieronymus crawled through the front door of the home. As he searched for stairs leading to the second floor, he came across a 23-month-old toddler. He grabbed the baby and retraced his steps to exit the home. Hieronymus briefly re-entered the home in a second attempt to rescue the mother, but heat and smoke drove him back. The baby was taken to the hospital for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation. Firefighters removed the mother from the home; she later died of her injuries.
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