Forrest E. Brock, Sr., saved an undetermined number of persons from an impending explosion, Washington Court House, Ohio, January 20, 1966. At a service station, Brock, 42, truck driver, was filling the first of three underground tanks by means of a hose leading from his gasoline truck, which contained 6,900 gallons of fuel. The filler caps had been removed from the other two tanks. A lighted match thrown by a passing boy ignited the gasoline fumes, and a jet of fire rose 30 feet from each of the three openings. Automobile tires stacked in the area caught fire. Brock feared the hose would be ignited and the flames would move along it to the truck, setting off an explosion which might be fatal to persons in the vicinity. Instead of fleeing to safety, Brock ran to the truck. Standing in a three-foot space between it and the side of the station, he stopped the pump and turned off the valve. The heat from the three jets of flame broke a large window in the building, and Brock shouted to persons inside to leave by a rear door. He then obtained a fire extinguisher and emptied its contents on the tank opening to which the hose was fitted. Brock warned other persons and all traffic at the scene to leave quickly. Firemen arrived and extinguished the three jets of flame. 49866-5372
49866 – 5372
49866-5372