Tribune Chronicle 2.8.2001

YOUNGSTOWN ­ City Council Wednesday passed resolutions honoring two firefighters who entered a burning house to save an infant last spring.

Council honored Capt. James Hellman and firefighter Steven Herschel for their actions during a fire at 365 E. Lucius Ave., April 29, 2000.

Heavy smoke was coming from the house when firefighters arrived just after 2:30 p.m. As they began to prepare their equipment to fight the fire, they were told an infant was in the house.

Hellman and Herschel entered the house without the aid of a hose and located the sleeping baby, one-year-old Brian Brown, in a bedroom. They brought the baby outside and revived him.

Brown was flown by helicopter to Akron Children's Hospital, where he stayed for several days. He is now doing very well, according to the resolutions.

Two other people who lived in the home were uninjured. The fire was started by a child playing with a lighter who set fire to a plastic hangar and tossed it beneath a bunk bed.

The boy who started the fire was placed in a special program for youngsters who commit fire-related offenses.