'Textbook Rescue' Credited For Saving Illinois Woman
Source The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
BLOOMINGTON -- An 86-year-old woman remains hospitalized after being rescued from a fire in her home Wednesday evening.
Bloomington Fire Department spokesman Brad McCollum said the woman -- whose name has not been released -- was found unconscious in a second-floor bathroom where she was attempting to escape the fire. She was in respiratory arrest due to smoke inhalation.
"She was covered in soot, with no visible external injuries or burns present," he said.
Firefighters began treating her on the front lawn of the property at 404 E. Lafayette Street, before she was transferred to Advocate BroMenn Hospital in Normal by a Bloomington Fire Department ambulance. Her condition is not available.
One cat was rescued, but two other cats died in the fire.
McCollum said the fire department was called to the scene at 7:26 p.m. and reported seeing smoke from the fire while still blocks away. Several Bloomington Fire and EMS units reported to the scene. The Normal Fire Department's Rapid Intervention Team also assisted.
McCollum said the team that rescued the woman had received a refresher training course on rescue attempts earlier that afternoon.
"The result was a textbook search and rescue, with the victim being found in a timely manner," he said. "Upon arrival, fire crews found a tri-level home with substantial fire on the main level, south-east corner of the house. They were informed that there were possibly two people inside of the home. One crew was ordered to the second floor to do a search and rescue. A second crew was assigned search and rescue on the main and lower floor, while suppression crews worked on the main body of fire."
McCollum said the smoke inside the building was heavy at the time of the rescue and visibility was at zero.
The fire was contained to the front porch and living room area of the house. A damage estimate is not yet available and investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Copyright 2013 - The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
