Firefighter Herlof "Ted" Hansen III

Firefighter Hansen and a fellow firefighter were searching the second floor of an apartment for occupants when there was an explosion on the ground floor. Witnesses said that the flames then broke through a breezeway, shot up, ignited the smoke upstairs and caused a second explosion engulfing both firefighters in flames. The fire then regressed to the stairwell -- the only exit.

The firefighters made their way to a window they had knocked out moments before the explosion. When they arrived, Firefighter Hansen dropped to the floor and was dead. The younger firefighter credited Firefighter Hansen with helping him to make it out alive.