Story by OSCAR PRESLEY, Chief
Photos by SHERYL DROST, Fire Photographer
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station

September 26, at 2:58am Harlem-Roscoe Fire received a 9-1-1 call for a mobile camper fire with children possibly trapped inside on the Rockton Road exit ramp from Interstate 90.

Chief Presley in the command vehicle 790 arrived quickly followed by Engine 706, which came from Harlem-Roscoe Fire's Station #3, located a short distance from the scene.

Police officers met the first in crew explaining the rapid explosions were ammunition going off in the camper, that it was a dangerous situation, and that there was a child inside.

Another child and the father had gotten out safely and were in the police car.

The camper was fully involved with fire and horrifying for all on scene that it was too late for anyone still inside.

706 crew quickly went to work and extinguished the fire.

C-51 Ambulance paramedics arrived on scene and tended to the father and child in the squad car - transporting the father to the hospital.

Chief Presley secured the scene and when the fire was extinguished turned the scene over to the Winnebago Sherriffs personnel.

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Investigators then joined forces with the Winnebago County Sheriff Department's Detectives and Technicians, the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Fire Investigator and the Winnebago County Coroners Office to investigate the scene.

It is believed a blanket had fallen onto a propane heater in the camper starting the fire.

The death of a 10 year-old boy whom investigators found inside the camper is sadly the first fire death of the year for Harlem-Roscoe Fire.