Armand B. Bolotte rescued Kurt Perrin from burning, Barataria, Louisiana, September 3, 1959. When an explosion spread flames throughout most of a 20 foot fishing boat tied to a dock in a bayou, Kurt, 1, his 11-year-old brother, and Armand, 16, schoolboy, sustained burns from flash flames which shot up 10 feet and then subsided to five feet. The brother ran for help. Armand started to follow but, hearing screams from Kurt, returned to the boat. He stepped into the forward part of the craft, where there then were no flames, and moved to Kurt, whose hair and clothing were afire as he sat on a bench in front of the burning engine housing. Other flames burned around the housing and on the fuel tank, which contained 25 gallons of gasoline. Armand extended his hands to within six inches of the flames and lifted Kurt from the bench. With his hands in the flames on Kurt’s clothing, Armand climbed back onto the dock. Flames increased on his arms as he ran toward the bank, and his hair caught fire. Others arrived, and a man used his shirt to smother the flames on Kurt and Armand. The flames on the boat were put out by use of a fire extinguisher. Kurt and Armand recovered from their burns within two months.
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