To the editor:

I am the parent of one of the girls living at the house which burned on Vermont Street. It was her 21st birthday, so we had come down to celebrate the event.

What your article didn’t mention was that there was a person riding his bike home from work that night who saw the fire burning on the girls’ front porch. He had the foresight and courage to enter the front porch and pound on the front door loud enough and long enough to wake one of the girls up. Had it not been for this guardian angel, I would have lost two of my children to this horrific fire. They were both fast asleep on the third floor, which had no fire detector.

Talking with the girls that night, no one remembered hearing any fire detector alarms, but they do remember hearing the banging on the front door. I am confident that had this person not banged on the front door that night, I would be burying two of my children this week.

Although this individual would not leave his name, I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for his courageous deed and to acknowledge that his actions saved my children’s lives. I will not be able to thank him personally but hope that he made read this and know that I am forever grateful that he not only saved my children’s lives but mine as well.

Sir, I can never thank you enough.

Steve Clayton,

Omaha, Neb.