Walter A. Stormant, 19, student, rescued Charles J. Albritton, 78, from burning, Weirsdale, Florida, November 4, 1966. When Albritton attempted to adjust a kerosene stove in his apartment on the second floor of a frame dwelling, flames shot into the air and ignited the ceiling. The fire spread quickly, and Albritton fled to the bathroom, where he became badly dazed by the smoke and fell to the floor. Stormant saw flames issuing from the second-floor windows. Knowing that Albritton lived alone in the apartment, he entered the first-floor hall and called out. Although only partly conscious, Albritton answered and gave his location. Stormant started up the stairway but because of the smoke he had to drop to his knees and crawl to the top, which was six feet from the bathroom door. Heat was intense from flames in the other room and at the opposite end of the hall leading from the stairway. Stormant, who had a painful back condition, lay on the hall floor beneath the dense smoke and reached into the bathroom. He grasped Albritton by the ankles and pulled him nine feet to the top of the stairs. Stormant picked up Albritton and, crouching beneath the increasing smoke, descended the stairs. After beating out flames on Albritton’s sweater, Stormant carried him outside. Stormant then ran into the first-floor apartment, alerted the occupants, and aided out of the dwelling a man who was confined to a wheelchair. Most of the second floor then was in flames. The dwelling burned to the ground. Albritton, who had sustained burns on his head, later contracted pneumonia but recovered.
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