Fire leaves two boys in critical condition

Jean Reid Norman

Thursday, April 12, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

Two brothers, one of them celebrating a birthday, were in critical condition at University Medical Center after a predawn fire this morning gutted their home while their father was at work.

Their 16-year-old sister, who could not reach them through heavy smoke and flames, was injured, but released today.

A 9-year-old boy was burned over 40 percent to 50 percent of his body and suffered smoke inhalation injuries, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said. The boy turned 9 today.

His 13-year-old brother suffered from smoke inhalation, Szymanski said.

The single-story home near U.S. 95 and Jones Boulevard was gutted by flames, causing $75,000 in damage. Heat melted the garage door.

The house in the 5500 block of Seabaugh Avenue was ablaze when firefighters arrived about 5:20 a.m.

The girl discovered the fire in the living room, where the children had been burning candles in glass containers. Her brothers were in bedrooms on the other side of the flames and smoke, and she could not reach them, Szymanski said.

The teen escaped and yelled for help. Neighbors heard glass breaking, and when they saw the flames, called 911 and went to the girl.

A neighbor tried to get to the boys, but the tile floor in the kitchen was too hot to walk on and the smoke too close to the floor, so she retreated.

The neighbors and girl then started breaking windows, which, Szymanski said, "usually is not a good idea, but in this case, it was."

Oxygen usually helps fire spread, but the spokesman noted that since the fire was not in the boys' rooms, the ventilation allowed heat and smoke to leave the house, helping them.

"This was probably the exception to the rule," he said.

Firefighters found the 13-year-old on the floor in a rear bedroom, and the 9-year-old on a bed in another rear bedroom.

The three children lived in the home with their father, who was at work, Szymanski said.

The fire was ruled accidental.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital after complaining that he didn't feel well, Szymanski said.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.