73-year-old Round Lake Park man runs into house fire to try to save neighbor

Round Lake Park resident Walter Smock figured he was too late to save a friend from a fire that broke out across the street from his house in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision on March 14, but, he said, he still had to try.

"He was a great friend of mine," the 73-year-old Smock said. "But I think he had already passed away when I was calling for him."

Smock said he let his dog out about 11:20 p.m. when he saw a female neighbor having trouble walking in his front yard.

"She was full of smoke and in shock and everything else," Smock said. "I walked her to the porch and helped her sit. Then I woke my wife up and told her to call 911."

Once the woman was safe, Smock said he ran across the street and entered her ranch house - while it was on fire - to try to help his friend Gregory Gauvain, 68, who was trapped inside. "We had dinner with them on Tuesday, and I said if there's ever anything I can do to help him out," Smock said. "We spoke every day. He was my friend."

Smock, a retired semi-truck driver for 34-years, said he ran into the house through the garage but was able to get only about 4 feet inside before the smoke blinded him. He dropped to his knees and kept trying to crawl inside.

"I called out several times and crawled in a bit farther," Smock said. "I was only in there a couple of minutes, but the smoke was so thick that I couldn't stay any longer."

Smock said he had to crawl out and was coughing and wheezing when the Grayslake Area Fire Protection District arrived on the scene minutes later.

Paramedics rushed him to Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville for smoke inhalation. He said he was released later that day.

He learned later that Gauvain died from fire-related injuries. Gauvain's wife suffered third-degree burns and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Grayslake Fire Department the and the Round Lake Park police.

"It was upsetting that I couldn't get to him, but I did what I could," Smock said.

Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said Smock showed true heroism by running into the blaze to try to help his friend.

"Mr. Smock obviously didn't fear for his own safety and instead took action by going into the house to save his neighbor," Filenko said. "It's rare for an individual to act with that kind of bravery and heroism."