Damion W. Westerfield rescued Velvet M. Griffey from burning, Indianapolis, Indiana, August 9, 1978. At night, fire broke out in the second-floor bedroom where Velvet, 5, was asleep; and smoke quickly filled the room and the hallway. Damion, 15, schoolboy, ascended to the second floor and made his way to Velvet’s room. Heat was intense, and only the glow of flames could be seen in the smoke-filled room as Damion crawled to the bed, bumping into furniture along the way. He stood up in the smoke, lifted Velvet from the bed, and returned to the bedroom door, again encountering furniture along his path. Damion descended to the first floor and emerged from the house with Velvet, who required hospitalization for extensive burns.
56393 – 6380
56393-6380