Trumbull deputy declines 'hero' label

NEWTON FALLS

Though Trumbull County Deputy Dallas Young says he never felt his life was in danger when he went inside a burning house Jan. 16, Sheriff Thomas Altiere sees it quite differently.

“I think it was really courageous what he did. Going into a burning building three times to rescue two people is heroic,” the sheriff said.

But don’t mention that “h” word around Young, who says there was nothing heroic about it.

“Yes, we got them out safe, but that’s what first responders do every day,” Young said, adding that he allowed The Vindicator to interview him because that is what Altiere asked him to do.

Young was on patrol on his regular beat in Newton Township when he was alerted by dispatchers at 7:36 p.m. to a possible house fire at 2505 Canal Street Ext., the home of John Laney, 69, and Beverly Laney, 68.

Young was the first police officer or firefighter to arrive and saw smoke coming from the home. He told dispatchers it appeared John, who uses a walker, and Beverly might still be inside.

Read what happened after that in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.