Richard Dale Olson rescued Carla L. Hardie from burning, Ceres, California, October 12, 1990. Mrs. Hardie, 43, was in her one-story house when fire broke out in the kitchen during the night and spread. A neighbor, Olson, 52, salesman, was alerted to the fire and ran to the scene, where he saw Mrs. Hardie on the living room floor, aflame. Despite blistering heat and extensive flames inside the house, Olson ran into the living room through a sliding glass door, grasped Mrs. Hardie, and dragged her out, his pajamas catching fire as he did so. Flames on Mrs. Hardie and Olson were extinguished with a garden hose obtained by Mrs. Hardie’s husband, who then helped Olson carry her to safety. Mrs. Hardie sustained severe burns, of which she died later that day. Olson sustained extensive second-degree burns which required hospital treatment. He was unable to work for six weeks, and he recovered.
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