A firefighter and U.S. Marine veteran ran back into a burning home in Milford Tuesday afternoon to rescue an American flag.

Milford Fire Department Lt. Bill Collins told WBZ he saw the flag through a window and wanted to save it — even after firefighters were forced out of the home by the porch collapsing and roof beginning to cave in.

Collins served in Operation Desert Storm before joining Milford Fire, WBZ reported. He said that’s why he respects the flag and what it stands for.

“The flag means a lot to me, but I’m sure it does to the other guys too,” he said. “I didn’t want to see the flag get hurt or burnt up.”

The blaze was first reported around 1:30 p.m. as it tore through the apartment building at 23 East St., the Milford Daily News reported. First responders fought the 2-alarm fire for at least two hours.

Fire Chief William J. Touhey Jr. told reporters the fire likely started outside the home, entered the basement, and then climbed up the walls and into the attic.


Resident Al Lawrence and four others were left without a home at the end of the day, and Lawrence said he couldn’t salvage much from the wreckage.

“It’s tough losing pictures of your kids, your clothing, all that, but everybody’s alive,” Lawrence told WBZ. “Thank God my roommate was home or I’d be dead in that room.”

No humans were injured in the fire, Patch reported, but four cats died.