My friend Robert Mathews of the Brooks Road in Pittsfield was drying his clothes at Dianna’s Laundromat is Pittsfield (Morning Sentinel, Jan. 6) when a dryer in use by another patron burst into flame.

Bob, a retired Army medic, took the lead, finally obtained a fire extinguisher from a business across the street, and did his best to control the fire before the fire department arrived.

Thank you, Bobby, for your ongoing service — in this and many other domains.

David Austin

Waterville