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Ward 14 FIRE ON WEST 44th Street...Hero Saves Woman!Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 19:12.
Man who rescued Cleveland woman from burning home this morning hospitalized in serious conditionPosted by djmiller [at] plaind [dot] com July 20, 2009 13:34PM Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerA Cleveland firefighter walks through one of three homes destroyed by fire on West 44th Street, south of Lorain Avenue this morning. CLEVELAND — The man who pulled a handicapped woman and her dogs out of her burning home this morning is in serious condition at MetroHealth Medical Center. Aaron Mills, 25, was driving with his girlfriend on Lorain Avenue about 3:30 a.m. when he saw burning houses on West 44th Street. He put the car in reverse and turned onto West 44th, girlfriend Becky Sanders said. "Then he ran to one house, busted out windows and went inside." There he found Julie Skala struggling to get out of a bed and into her wheelchair. Mills grabbed her, carried her outside, then went back inside and rescued her dogs. He entered the house a third time to get Skala's medication and wheelchair, Sanders said. Firefighters arrived and had to pull Mills from the burning house. Video: Julie Skala describes being awakened by a fire this morning on Cleveland's West Side. "He was limp and screaming that his hands were burning and that he couldn't breath. He was coughing up blood," Sanders said. Skala's rental home was ignited by a fire that burned out of control at the vacant house next door. "It appears to be an arson," firefighter spokesman Larry Gray said. The house on the other side of the abandoned house also caught fire. A family sleeping there escaped unharmed. Passersby also woke them. Christine Binder grabbed her children minutes before their ceilings began to collapse. "I got my kids out, anything else is just things," she said. Glenn Barr, who hired Mills several months ago to help him rehabilitate houses in the city, said Mills is "fearless and always helping people. I've seen more integrity in him than most people." Mills' family does not live in the area, Barr said. Print This Page
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Posted by NRWM on 07/20/09 at 1:48PM
A true hero.Wish him a speedy recovery. Posted by WoodBurner on 07/20/09 at 1:59PM
A Cleveland Hometown Hero Get Well Soon ! ----------------------------------------------- Posted by pt816 on 07/20/09 at 1:59PM
Wow...what bravery.......God speed his recovery Posted by eucgirl on 07/20/09 at 2:03PM
What an inspiring story of heroism. I hope he recovers soon. Posted by RIBrownfan on 07/20/09 at 2:03PM
brave indeed. just wish he didn't risk his life the third time over meds and a wheelchair Posted by CodeJohnny on 07/20/09 at 2:07PM
So a Family loses their home, she could have been burned if it was not for Aaron and others, and all for a land lords greed? Wow, that's awesome... go greed, welcome to America I guess. Posted by CodeJohnny on 07/20/09 at 2:07PM
So a Family loses their home, she could have been burned if it was not for Aaron and others, and all for a land lords greed? Wow, that's awesome... go greed, welcome to America I guess. Posted by CodeJohnny on 07/20/09 at 2:08PM
So a Family loses their home, she could have been burned if it was not for Aaron and others, and all for a land lords greed? Wow, that's awesome... go greed, welcome to America I guess. Posted by rockyriver88 on 07/20/09 at 2:23PM
I hope Aaron Mills recovers. What a remarkable person he must be. CodeJohnny, Unless I am missing something. What does the landlord have to do with this situation? Yes the story is poorly written, however it doesn't sound like the landlord started the fire at the house next door to Julie Skalas'. So how is he greedy? Posted by usermyname on 07/20/09 at 2:58PM
GREAT JOB Aaron, God speed in your recovery. Give this kid a medal. Too bad most people don't have the guts this kid has ! Posted by logicoffacts on 07/20/09 at 3:01PM
anybody know where we can send a few bucks to help out? Posted by bigdawg1254 on 07/20/09 at 3:05PM
Great job young man, im wishing you a speedy recovery. This world needs more like you. Posted by KittyForeman on 07/20/09 at 3:08PM
Aaron Mills is a true hero and an inspiration. We all wish for his speedy recovery. He's a great example of selflessness. God be with him and his loved ones! I agree with rockyriver88 - how is the landlord at fault? Posted by vistalite on 07/20/09 at 3:11PM
I wish there were more people like this brave guy. Good luck. Posted by astralcat on 07/20/09 at 3:42PM
I am a friend of Aaron's. I would like thank all of you that have posted supportive comments. Especially those that keep him in their prayers. This guy is the real deal. A real hero. Make no mistake about it. Posted by hardhrt on 07/20/09 at 3:45PM
billinSHAKER Posted by ebbtide08 on 07/20/09 at 3:51PM
I pray he gets well soon so we can have a parade for him. He deserves it! I htink the President should visit him too. Posted by nanato2 on 07/20/09 at 3:51PM
CodeJohnny ...huh??? where the heck does it say the landlord had anything to do with this? I think you are misguided unless you had something to tell the authorities????? Posted by MKR2219 on 07/20/09 at 3:52PM
God bless this remarkable young man. I wish him a speedy recovery. Posted by citykitty on 07/20/09 at 3:57PM
ASTRALCAT (friend of Aaron's): Please tell him I have tears in my eyes after reading this story. I will pray for a speedy recovery for him. He is truly a wonderful human being. Make sure to tell him that. We need more people like him in this world. GOD BLESS HIM! Posted by immunenow on 07/20/09 at 4:00PM
What a sad story. I hope he recovers soon. Poor guy. As for the landlord's greed--hold on a sec. These are old houses, OLD, and when an arsonist starts a fire with, say, gasoline, the fire really GOES! However, in defense of CodeJohnny, he might be referring to the landlord/owner of that vacant home. When I lived in the City, we did not call it arson, we called it.... URBAN RENEWAL. And lots and lots of owners did it (and are probably still doing it). It is vitally important that any of the neighbors share anything they heard or saw with the Fire Department. That lady could have lost her life (and her rescuer--God forbid--could still lose his) and torching your property because it has become a pain is not acceptable! God speed to you hero man! Posted by kbhret on 07/20/09 at 4:06PM
PUT THIS GUY ON THE NEWS INSTEAD OF ALL OF THE EASTSIDE CLEVELAND THUGS WE NORMALLY SEE ON THE NEWS Posted by canedad on 07/20/09 at 4:17PM
I pray for his speedy recovery. It was a brave and selfless act to save this woman. I only wish he wouldn't have gone back in for meds and wheelchair. Prescriptions can be refilled and a wheelchair can be replaced and wasn't worth the pain he is now in. Posted by canedad on 07/20/09 at 4:17PM
I pray for his speedy recovery. It was a brave and selfless act to save this woman. I only wish he wouldn't have gone back in for meds and wheelchair. Prescriptions can be refilled and a wheelchair can be replaced and wasn't worth the pain he is now in. Posted by ruxpeerenced on 07/20/09 at 4:21PM
WOW Guy saves a woman, a REAL hero and we still have sholes that need to find a reason to be cynical REALLY!!! I hope you get well sir, you did what alot of these keyboard cowboys would NEVER have done! Posted by pt816 on 07/20/09 at 4:36PM
CodeJohnny: Welcome to America? Nobody is holding you here at gunpoint....the Mexican & Canadian border are open and waiting for you to leave anytime you wish. Good riddance. Here is a thread about a real brave citizen and all you can do is add your garbage. Posted by theo66996 on 07/20/09 at 5:01PM
It's nice to read abut a hero for a change, especially in that awful NEar West Side neighborhood. West 44th is roughly where I had a gun pulled on me two years ago. There are crack fiends and so forth all over there. It wouldn't be the worst idea to get everyone out of all those homes and then light them all on fire. You'd be taken out a bunch of drug houses in the process. But the person who committed this aggravated arson needs to be caught and prosecuted to the hilt. Posted by vivian2007 on 07/20/09 at 5:50PM
This young man should get a big AWARD for all he done. he went in the burning house three times. I hope and pray this young man get well soon. Posted by ECinBOSTON on 07/20/09 at 5:59PM
WOW!!!!! I want to commend this brave young man, his girlfriend, his mother and everyone else who had an influence on him. I also want to commend all you posters for NOT bringing up some of the tired arguments about race and/or east vs west side... How wonderfully refreshing. This is a case of one human being saving the life of another human being. Period. Somebody throw this young man a parade!!! Posted by jimbio on 07/20/09 at 6:12PM
Aaron Mills we honor you!!! CFD you can learn a few things from this hero instead of a policy of surround and drown a property~!!! Posted by jimbio on 07/20/09 at 6:12PM
Aaron Mills we honor you!!! CFD you can learn a few things from this hero instead of a policy of surround and drown a property~!!! Posted by mouse12301 on 07/20/09 at 6:33PM
Prayers go our for his recovery. A true hero and courageous young man. Posted by divadiva57 on 07/20/09 at 7:46PM
God Bless You Mr Mills...there will be many prayers going to heaven for you tonight. May you have a speedy recovery...we are all pulling for you.
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