NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
|
|
THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
FIRE CRITICALLY INJURES CITIZEN; 2 RESCUERS TO RECEIVE AWARDSMayor Stephen R. Reed today reported that a one-alarm fire at 634 Boyd Street has left one man in critical condition with second and third degree burns over much of his body. The blaze was reported at 8:38 a.m. Arriving fire units found smoke and fire coming from the second floor front bedroom of the single-family home. Prior to firefighters’ arrival, two passers-by, Nic Barrelet of Lower Paxton Twp. and Randy Harmon of New Cumberland, learned from occupants that one man was trapped in the bedroom. Oppressive temperatures prevented them from initially entering the bedroom, so they broke out a bedroom window with a pickle jar, which allowed the fire gases to vent to the outside and thus reduced temperatures in the bedroom. The two then got to the victim and carried him to the first floor, where firefighters and EMS personnel soon took charge. Reed said the two civilians “undertook a high risk dramatic rescue. This was true heroism at work.” Both will be recognized with the city’s top lifesaving award at the October Fire Awards program. The victim, Jancio Irizarry, 59, was helicoptered immediately to the Lehigh Valley Burn Center due to his critical condition. The fire was largely confined to the bedroom where it started. Damage is estimated at $15,000. Two other family members were home when the fire began—the victim’s daughter and a one-year old granddaughter, who safely fled the fire. The fire was caused by the victim having extended the wire on a space heater by splicing a piece of extension cord onto the supply wire to the heater. Family members indicated several small fires had been caused during the past two weeks where the defective splicing ignited the floor beneath it. Minor damage occurred at the adjoining structure at 632 Boyd Street. |
|
