On November 17, 1995, Richard Boase saved his sister from her burning house in Hopedale, Labrador. When he noticed smoke coming from the open door of the woman's home, Mr. Boase immediately ran inside with a friend but both were forced back because of the smoke. Determined, Mr. Boase crawled back inside, found the disoriented victim in a bedroom at the rear of the house and guided her to safety. He then dampened his sweater and re-entered the house in search of other occupants, but the falling debris and heat forced him out again. Mr. Boase abandoned his efforts when he was informed that his sister's children and her husband were not in the house. Regrettably, it was discovered later that the husband perished in the blaze.