Two injured in Beach Park house fire
News-Sun staff report March 18, 2013 6:10PM
Beach Park Fire Dept. Lt. Bruce Willett (left) talks with Pleasant Prairie Fire Dept. firefighter Mike Passafaro at a house fire in the 30000 block of Manor Ave. in Beach Park. According to home owner Dave Needham "It was a typical house fire everything inside burned. We think it was turned over candle. There was 4 of us in the house and we got out OK. Including the dog, fish and turtle. I am a Viet Nam veteran, I'm retired and 100% disabled. We just had all new floors, cabinets, flooring, siding and windows done on the house. I am not sure what we are going to do now." | Thomas Delany Jr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 19, 2013 7:03AM
A 3-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl from Beach Park were transported to the hospital Monday afternoon after they were injured by smoke and heat from a house fire that started when the you boy accidently knocked a candle over onto a bed.
Fire Chief Paul Tierney said the husband and wife were treated at the scene. Approximately $100,000 worth of damage was done to the home and it is uninhabitable. The family is working with its insurance company for temporary housing.
The call came in for a structure fire at 38154 N Manor, Beach Park, around 4:10 p.m. and firefighters on the first engines found heavy smoke coming from the north side of the two-story single family home.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but the parents told fire officials that the 3-year-old accidentally knocked a candle over onto a mattress in one of the bedrooms. “A mattress goes up pretty quick,” he said.
While the wife called 9-1-1, the husband did try to extinguish the fire at first, then they concentrated on getting everyone out of the house.
“They’re very lucky,” said Tierney.
Assistance came from Newport Township Fire Department, Waukegan, Zion and Winthrop Harbor Fire departments and Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue from Wisconsin. Ambulances came from North Chicago, Gurnee and Lake Villa.
The injuries from smoke and heat to the children were described as “non life-threatening,” he said. They were taken to Vista Medical Center East, Waukegan. It was not known if they were staying overnight for observation.
