Elgin Firefighter rescues toddler from burning home

a 2 year old toddler was saved by Elgin Firefighters this afternoon when a basement fire, quickly engulfed the entire front of the home at 517 Cumberland Trail. The call came in as a basement fire and upon arrival of the FD, there was light to moderate smoke coming from a front basement window. That smoke quickly turned to flames and within 2 minutes, had most of the front of the house engulfed in flames. Elgin Firefighter Kevin Hartmann was one of the first firefighters inside the house and when checking the kitchen, found the toddler still in his high-chair as smoke covered the ceiling. Shortly after he escaped with the child, the entire kitchen was filled with smoke and fire had spread to the attic of the home. Police later arrested the father for starting to fight with firefighters as they tried to extinguish the blaze.

UPDATE Nov. 2012:

This story is so F'd up on multiple levels.....this is an update that is long overdue.

What you're seeing in this video is what FFs saw at the time they pulled up. I pulled up at the same time the ambulance did, and then the first Engine arrived. I arrived (I am not a FF!) within 30 seconds of the call. This fire spread fast because a pile of clothes were lit on fire, in the bedroom at that window. Firefighters were not going to put a line on it and start hosing down the house because they were being told that there were people inside the house still. (even after the child was saved!)

Unbelievably.....this bonehead was not convicted for AggArson. Prosecutors couldn't make their case. (video and all!). He was however convicted on several other unrelated charges and given 9 years.

Here is a link to one of the stories. http://bit.ly/UKP6rS

I'm still in disbelief myself.

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  News & Politics

[bubblybabs]

Why on earth were the adults out of the burning building without their baby? Then the guy is acting all puffed up and tough when he was a chicken shit getting his own ass out while leaving the baby in the house...

[capi1lope]

Did anyone else try to jump through their computer screen to throttle that asshole?

[thumbdownu]

hard to stay collective when theres nothing you can do mate.

[Johnniebad]

Def not parent(s) of the year. I and/or my wife would die trying rescue our children as I think most parents would.

[Katherine Jerde]

Thanks uploader for the story update! This guy sucks!

[Anthony Benelisha]

why was there that guy with the ladder and no turn outs running around?

[Cody Thomas]

Where was police

[MAJOR D]

That guy was inappropriate to say the least. Possibly too much emotion mixed with adrenaline. Still.. if that were my scene.. would have had him removed by PD but I really did not see any LE there or did I miss that part? Would have been nice if more crew were already packed up and ready on arrival instead of dressing off the beavertail huh?

[Ting Tong]

he got 9 years - doubt he thanked them.

[fireman1291]

Everything else aside. You wont catch me doing vertical ventilation without being on air, a roof ladder, and a friggin vent saw.

[goatsears]

This is my ladder, there are many like it, but this ones mine....

[paintballbeast96]

what was that guy doing with the ladder the whole time