Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) James Traficante - Command Chief of 103 Airlift Wing CT ANG - was a passenger on the aircraft and had taken his military issue flame retardant gloves with him. Despite broken limbs he was the one who managed to get the hatch open allowing others to escape the fire.
CMSgt Traficante had been a Crew Chief / Loadmaster on the KC-135, NKC-135 (laser test aircraft at Edwards AFB) and the C-130 - exceptionally well done and very fortunate on the day for those that survived.
https://www.103aw.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/868528/chief-master-sergeant-james-m-traficante/