Michael J. Oris, 31, truck driver, saved two unknown men and attempted to save one or more other men from burning, Vancouver, Washington, November 13, 1942. Fire broke out on the ground floor of a large frame dormitory building, in which were more than 200 persons. From outside the building Oris went into a corridor that was filled with smoke. Tying a handkerchief across his nose and mouth, he ran in the corridor, knocking on doors of rooms at both sides. He forced open a door 35 feet from the entrance, entered a room in which smoke was dense, and carried an unconscious man to the outside. Again entering the corridor, he ran to the door of another room, forced it open, and again carried an unconscious man to the outside. Oris entered the corridor a third time and opened the door of a room still farther from the entrance and entered it. Flames suddenly filled the room, burning Oris; and he backed into the corridor, in which there were flames except for a small space through the center. His clothing and hair became ignited; and he ran to the outside doorway and stumbled through it, rolling on wet grass and extinguishing the flames on himself. He sustained serious burns on his hands and head and was confined to a hospital for 10 weeks. One hand was badly crippled, and a finger later was amputated. Seven persons died in the fire. 39755-3342
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