Tuesday, April 06, 1999
Boy burned as home explodes
Mother also hurt in fire in Dayton
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DAYTON, Ky. — In the instant of a loud, bright explosion, a little boy was engulfed in flames in the basement of his house Monday night.
Neighbors said they heard a bang about 7:30 p.m. and saw flames shoot out the basement door of 504 Seventh St. Just as Ron Stucker ran across the street to help, the 3-year-old boy and his mother burst through the door, the boy covered in fire; his mother's arms and feet were ablaze.
Dayton fire officials think gasoline being drained from a motorcycle might have been ignited by something in the basement, causing the explosion.
Mr. Stucker, 27, and Eric Randall, 28, patted and hugged the boy, trying to put out the flames. Only the arm his mother had grabbed him by was not burning, Mr. Stucker said. The men yelled for blankets or water. Someone came with a green and white quilt.
Police and fire officials did not release the names of the boy or his mother.
Beth Fenton, 23, saw the house smoking and dialed 911. In the time it took the phone to ring five times, she saw the boy was on fire and started to cry. Melissa Tolle and her mother, Karen Tillett, heard the screams and bolted down the street to help, Miss Tolle dialing 911 as she ran.
“We kept patting him and patting him down and we couldn't get the flames out,” Mr. Stucker said, pointing to the burns on his own forearms. “His shoes were melting. It was scary.”
The little boy kept screaming, “Pick me up. Pick me up,” Miss Tolle said.
Then the boy quickly calmed down and gave everyone the smile they'd come to know when he played with other children on the street.
When paramedics arrived, the neighbors had taken off most of the child's clothes. They lay in a heap by the stoop next door, socks and underwear in a bunch, the tiny black sneakers bubbled and warped. The quilt was crumpled nearby, marred by mud-colored stains.
The boy was taken to Children's Hospital Medical Center and then to Shriners Burns Institute. His mother was taken to University Hospital. Nursing supervisors said the child was in serious condition. There was no immediate condition report on his mother.
Witnesses told Dayton Assistant Fire Chief Dave Tiemayr they smelled gasoline just after the fire started. Two fire units from Dayton and one from Bellevue put out the blaze. At 10 p.m. firefighters were still inspecting the two-story home with the stone porch. Windows were smashed and strips of the colonial blue vinyl siding peeled off the house.
Going, gone, gone! Pigeons make fast stadium exit
Marge's last Opening Day as bosslady
Billboards from God arrive in Tristate
Boy burned as home explodes
Future zoo levies to be limited
Cincinnati schools cite gain despite low ranking
Former reporter identifies confidential Chiquita source
Damon's uncle accused of murder in nephew's death
Feds accuse man in gas drum stash
Flynt asks if police had work permit for youth in porn sting
Radiation suit 1 step away from its end
Rec centers after-school 'home'
Stealing base easier than parking car
Work begins on I-71 project
Auditors seek to be watchdogs
Ohio turns over probe to FBI
Titles help pay for Arctic trip
29 retailers cited in undercover tobacco check
Apartments must pick up trash charges
Butler County caisson to carry fallen heroes, officers
Changes in zoning plan questioned
Defection hurts Democrats
Diabetes control goal of center
Florence video store shut
Icon of early Clermont history restored
Lucas: Growers should get share of tobacco deal
Middletown wants teens' input
Study: Dust control doesn't affect lead exposure
TRISTATE DIGEST
Winton Woods volunteer group goes Full Circle
