Times Carrier Saves Woman From Blaze
A newspaper carrier broke into a burning home in Leisure World in Laguna Hills early Tuesday and rescued the 87-year-old woman who lived there.
An Orange County Fire Department spokesman credited William A. Barron, 40, of Laguna Hills, a Los Angeles Times carrier for three years, with helping save the life of Lucille Hollingsworth.
Hollingsworth, who was found semiconscious by Barron near her front door, suffered smoke inhalation and first- and second-degree burns. She was reported in serious condition at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange.
Barron, an insurance underwriter who works part time delivering The Times, discovered the fire at 3:30 a.m.
“I turned and saw smoke billowing out from the eaves,” he said in an interview. “I knocked on the door but had to pound it with my shoulder to open it.” Barron crawled down the hallway until he found Hollingsworth, then picked the woman up and carried her outside, he said.
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