Walter M. Beresford rescued Frances M. Greene from burning, Irvington, New Jersey, April 13, 2006. Greene, 70, was on the second floor of her two-story house after fire erupted in a bedroom on that floor. Flames issuing from the bedroom window caught the attention of Beresford, 57, a fire captain for another municipality, who, off duty, was in the neighborhood. Beresford ran to the burning house and with another man forced entry through the front door. He searched the first floor for any occupants and then started upstairs, having to crawl because of dense, black smoke filling the stairway. On the second floor, he heard Greene calling for help. He crawled across a hall and into the burning bedroom, where flames issued from the walls and ceiling. Finding Greene lying on the floor, Beresford secured a hold on her and, seated on the floor, pushed himself back to the top of the stairs, dragging her. He went down the stairs with her to a landing, where he attempted to use a rug in removing her from the house. Firefighters arrived and helped move Greene away from the structure as flames spread throughout the second floor. Both Greene and Beresford were taken by ambulance to the hospital, where they were treated for second-degree burns, from which they recovered.
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