On June 7, 1998, on the Sliammon Indian Reserve near Powell River, British Columbia, George August raced through the blazing entranceway of a house in an attempt to rescue his elderly neighbour. Mr. August then crawled through thick black smoke to a back room where he located the panic-stricken woman. He began dragging her towards the exit through the flaming hallway but, unable to breathe and suffering from severe smoke inhalation, he had to abandon his efforts when the victim collapsed. With his clothes on fire, he managed to break through a window pane, seriously cutting his arm as he did so. Sadly, the fire claimed the woman's life.