Boy Honored for Pulling Disabled Man From Blaze

A 16-year-old boy who crawled on his hands and knees through a flaming house to rescue his friend’s disabled father won the county’s medal of valor Tuesday, becoming the seventh recipient, and the youngest, in six years.

Brad Hall of Anaheim received the county’s highest honor for his rescue last Dec. 22 of Roland Winters, 43, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and must wear leg braces or use a wheelchair to get around.

“If it wasn’t for Brad, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” Winters told the Board of Supervisors, which bestowed the honor on the youth.

Winters said that when he found the house engulfed in flames around 7 a.m., he shouted to his wife and son, and Brad and another friend of his son, to get out and not to worry about him.

Instead, Brad crawled back into the house and, after being unable to carry Winters to safety, managed to drag him outside. Both Brad and Winters were treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire officials said the blaze was ignited by a candle on a Christmas tree.