THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008
Fire Engulfs Home Just Before Holiday
By RICHARD MAYER
Assistant Managing Editor
The Thanksgiving holiday started off badly for one family in Mt. Prospect last Wednesday (Nov. 26) when a fire broke out engulfing a large portion of a split-level home at 1512 Larch Dr., near Euclid and River roads.
According to Fire Chief Mike Figolah, the fire department received a call at approximately 8:03 p.m. with first units arriving on the scene about four minutes later. However, two minutes after the first call came in, other nearby units were asked to respond due to numerous 911 calls.
According to a police report, at the time the fire broke out, two boys ages 12 and 15 were home alone, while parents were at work. The report stated that one of the boys claimed they were squirting rubbing alcohol from a squeeze bottle on the burner flame in the kitchen. They said the flame ran up a vapor trail, with the fire consuming much of the kitchen a short time later.
The 15-year-old said he ran upstairs to call 911 while the younger boy threw two bowls of water on the flames, spreading the fire to the living room.
The younger child then ran out the front door and went next door but no one answered. He then went to the neighbor on the other side of the house, where that resident called 911.
The 15-year-old boy was trapped on the second floor, so he jumped out of a second floor window, injuring himself as he landed, Figolah said.
However, there were some discrepancies in the adolescents' statements.
According to the police report, once investigators examined the situation, they found the bowls in the living room, not in the kitchen, which was initially stated. They also found aerosol cans, not a rubbing alcohol bottle and a burn mark on the living room floor and not on the kitchen, with more heat damage in the living room compared to the kitchen. Police also said the burners on the stove were all off.
Through the investigation, it was determined the 15-year-old was playing with a lighter and trying to ignite an assortment of objects. No criminal charges will be issued, according to Figolah.
According to Figolah, the 15-year-old suffered burns and was taken to Glenbrook Hospital for treatment. He was later transported to Loyal Medical Center for further treatment. The younger child was also taken to Glenbrook Hospital for observation.
"We were able to extinguish the fire within 20-25 minutes of arriving on the scene," said Figolah.
Figolah said the 15-year-old was released from the hospital last Friday and returned to school this past Monday.
No one else was injured in the fire, but two dogs perished in the blaze. Additionally, no nearby homes suffered any damages.
The house is inhabitable and the estimated cost of damage is around $200,000, Figolah said.
"The amount of fire that occurred you expect in a vacant home," said Figolah, "The boys tried extinguishing it before calling 911 so there was a delay in response and there were also no smoke detectors. It could have been a lot worse."
Figolah said there are many lessons to be learned with this incident. He emphasized that kids shouldn't play with lighters or matches, don't make 911 calls from inside the home, don't try and extinguish the fire, and make sure there are working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in place.