Dec 16, 2008 3:09 pm US/Central
NW Suburban Man Rescues Father From House Fire
RICHMOND,Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A man who suffered burns on nearly 40 percent of his body but went back inside his burning northwest suburban home late Monday to rescue his father is being hailed as a hero.
Both men were critically injured in the blaze that started Monday night in far northwest suburban Richmond, near the Wisconsin border.
At 11:19 p.m., Timothy Widen and his wife Susan Widen heard a popping noise at their ranch-style one-story home at 8004 U.S. 31, Richmond Fire Protection District Chief Rick Gallas said.
When crews got to the home they saw flames showing from the north side of the home and heard a woman screaming for help, he said.
"[The family] got up and saw the house on fire,'' Gallas said. They escaped but then realized James H. Widen, 82, who is Timothy Widen's father, was not outside so the younger Widen went back inside to rescue his father from a bedroom.
"He went in a pulled him out from the man's bedroom,'' Gallas said. While doing that, Timothy Widen suffered second-degree burns to an estimated 36-38 percent of his body, including his back, arms and the back of his head.
"If you're looking for a hero, he's probably a hero,'' Gallas said.
Both men were airlifted in critical condition to burn centers -- Timothy Widen to St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee and James Widen to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's office.
James Widen suffered smoke inhalation and some burns, Gallas said.
Susan Widen was taken to Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Gallas said. She was not seriously hurt and ended up driving to the hospital in Wisconsin to be with her husband.
The fire, which left the home uninhabitable, started in the finished basement and quickly spread up the side of the house. It was mostly controlled within 30 minutes and fully secured in about an hour.
One of the family's several dogs was found dead in the basement, according to the chief, who said several hunting dogs were found alive outside.
The biggest obstacle crews faced was getting into the basement to turn off the electricity because it was engulfed in flames and sparking.
ComEd was eventually able to shut off the power, the chief said.
About 35 firefighters from several departments battled the blaze.
Fire and police investigators do not believe it was suspicious in nature.
The house sustained in excess of $100,000 in damage, Gallas said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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