DEBARY -- Flames shot through the collapsing roof while Hurricane Jeanne's raging winds fueled the fire.
Michael McKinley could hardly see through the smoke, but he could hear explosions from gas containers and ammunition.
Putting his own life on the line, the 15-year-old ran inside the Summerhaven Drive home. McKinley, who's been staying in the neighborhood since his family's home was destroyed by Hurricane Frances, heard about the fire and rushed over to help. When he got there, he realized the home's owner, Nick Giampietro, was in the house.
BILLY GOLDFEDER, EFO, who is a Firehouse contributing editor, has been a firefighter since 1973 and a chief officer since 1982. He is deputy fire chief of the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department in Ohio, which is an ISO Class 1, CPSE and CAAS-accredited department. Goldfeder has served on numerous NFPA and International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) committees. He is on the board of directors of the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
