MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Two local men are being hailed as heroes after rushing into a burning home and pulling a neighbor to safety in a dramatic late-night rescue.
The fire broke out on Friday, March 14, in the Vista Woods community, after residents reported hearing a loud explosion before flames tore through a home on Elm Crest Drive.
Perry Graybill said he ran toward the scene after hearing the blast, where he joined fellow neighbor Gregory Menke. Within moments, the pair forced their way inside despite thick black smoke pouring from the property.
Graybill later described the conditions inside as “a wall of smoke” as they searched for their neighbor, Tony Hittner.
They found him lying on the floor and quickly dragged him out of the burning home, checking for signs of life once they reached safety.
Graybill said Hittner had smoke coming from his mouth and nose, and their immediate focus was making sure he was still breathing and had a pulse.
Hittner survived and has since been released from hospital. Tragically, his wife did not survive the fire.
Emergency crews confirmed at the time that one person died and another was injured in the blaze, which remains under investigation.
Weeks later, at a township meeting on April 21, Graybill and Menke were formally recognized for their actions and awarded Civilian Life-Saving Awards.
Fire officials praised the pair for showing the kind of courage normally expected from trained professionals.
But Graybill downplayed the recognition, saying he wasn’t thinking about awards in the moment. He said he was simply doing what anyone should — helping a neighbor in need.
The rescue has since struck a chord across Clermont County, highlighting how quickly ordinary people can be forced into extraordinary situations — and how those split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death.
