Frank R. Hicks V saved Dylan T. Beebe and Lisa S. and Debra S. Long from burning, Oroville, California, July 28, 2006. Dylan, 2, and his mother, Lisa, 25, were passengers of the sport utility vehicle driven by Lisa’s mother, Debra, 51. Involved in a highway accident, the vehicle left the roadway and went down a steep embankment into a ravine, where it turned onto its passenger side and caught fire at its front end. Hicks, 23, boat mechanic, witnessed the accident. Seeing smoke rise from the ravine, he ran down the embankment and approached the vehicle but was unsuccessful in opening its driver’s door. After Debra opened that door’s window, Lisa handed Dylan out to him, and he took Dylan to safety. Hicks then returned to the vehicle, on which flames were growing and spreading. Lisa had climbed about halfway through the window, and Hicks aided her the rest of the way out and took her to safety. Debra then climbed through the window and fell to the ground adjacent to the vehicle, where flames were beginning to spread to the tinder-dry vegetation. As her injuries kept her from moving away from the flames, Hicks returned to the vehicle again, seized Debra by the arms, and pulled her to safety. Flames soon grew to envelope the car, and they spread to a two-acre area before they were extinguished. All three victims required hospital treatment for their injuries, Dylan’s being minor burns to his chest. He recovered.
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