Prospect Hts. officers rescue man from burning home

Two veteran Prospect Heights police officers felt their way through thick smoke Wednesday to rescue a Prospect Heights man from his burning home.

"Even on the floor, I could only see about three feet away with my flashlight," said officer Chuck Willey. His partner, officer Bill Caponigro, had just kicked down the front door with a single blow.

"The smoke released from the home just enough," Caponigro said, for Willey to crawl to the 74-year-old occupant in a front bedroom.

The resident initially was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights but later transferred to Loyola University Hospital's Burn Unit in Maywood. His condition was not available Thursday evening.

Caponigro, who has been on the force 11 years, and Willey, 18 years, were on patrol in separate vehicles about 10:30 p.m. when they heard the call.

The victim told police he believed a faulty engine block heater in the garage was to blame for the blaze. The attached garage caught fire filling the home with nearly impenetrable black smoke.

The elderly resident had called 911 from outside the home but inexplicably went back inside, perhaps to retrieve his wallet, Caponigro said.

Officers were told there was no one in the home. They arrived to find smoke pouring out of the garage roof vent and the home in near complete darkness. Arriving before firefighters, Caponigro and Willey shouted into the home to make sure no one was inside.

Willey, who had opened an unlocked back door of the home on the 100 block of Garden Lane, wasn't expecting anyone but heard a response on his second call.

"I told him to get down low on the ground, cover his mouth - and crawl to my voice," Willey said.

But the man was disoriented and said he could not move due to an earlier injury.

Without breathing apparatus, Willey crawled about 30 feet through the kitchen and a hallway to the bedroom until he saw the man's feet.

The smoke remained intense.

"My flashlight (beam) didn't go past his belt line," Willey said.

"I could hear the wood crackling from the fire - that was the only thing that had me nervous - where the fire was and how quickly it might be spreading."

Caponigro also felt his way to assist and the pair were able to lead the man out the front door.

"It was pitch black. No lights were on in the house. I heard them and was able to get a hold of his (resident's) arm," Caponigro said.

Police Chief Bruce Morris said the two "communicated and worked well as a team."

"We're not well-trained to do something like that, so a lot of it is instinct," Morris said.

Both officers have had previous experience in burning buildings. Caponigro said he was among three officers who saved a woman from one about seven years ago.

"Right place, right time," he said of Wednesday's dramatic situation.

After taking some oxygen, the pair went on to complete their shifts.

"My clothes smelled like smoke all night and I blew black soot out of my nose for awhile but then, back to work," Caponigro said.

The hospital has not yet responded to questions about the resident's condition. Morris said Thursday afternoon he believed the man is in critical condition.

Firefighters said the fire was contained within 15 minutes. Damage to the home is estimated to be $20,000. There was no evidence of working smoke detectors, according to Fire Chief Donald Gould.

Due to the lack of fire hydrants in the area, the incident was immediately upgraded to bring in additional crews from Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Arlington Heights, Long Grove, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, Palatine Rural and Glenview.