Hawthorn Woods couple lauded for alerting family to fire
A Hawthorn Woods couple have been honored for alerting residents of a Quentin Road house that was on fire earlier this month.
No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported to the Lake Zurich Fire Department at 7:52 a.m. Jan. 2. The ranch house on the 24000 block of North Quentin Road is in unincorporated Lake County, across the street from Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church in Lake Zurich.
Doug and Susie Wheeler were commended at Monday night's Lake Zurich village board meeting. They were on their way to breakfast when they noticed smoke from the house and pulled over on Quentin Road, just south of Old McHenry Road.
Mayor Thomas Poynton said Susie Wheeler exited the car and went to the front door.
"She quickly determined what might be going on and began knocking on the door to see if anyone was home," Poynton said. "Mrs. Wheeler continued knocking on the door until the resident answered."
Poynton said the man didn't know the house was on fire and gathered his wife and son. The Wheelers assisted in the family's evacuation.
After describing the Wheelers' actions, Poynton stressed how important it is to take care of each other and value community service. He presented the village's Citizen Service Award to the Wheelers.
"I'm glad we were there," Susie Wheeler said.
Lake Zurich Fire Chief John Malcolm said "the outcome may have been different" if the Wheelers had not acted so quickly.
Fire officials said the flames originated on a deck and spread to the house's interior. The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.