Evans Teen Dies Despite Rescue Efforts
An overnight stay at a friend's house turned tragic early in the morning of January 17, 1999.
Highland and Evans Center fire fighters were alerted for a house fire on Sturgeon Point Road with people trapped around 4:30am. The crew from Evans Center's Engine 1 was just returning from an auto accident when the call came in and responded to the scene quickly.
First arriving chiefs had trouble discerning from the residents whether all of the occupants were out of the house. They were first told that everyone was out and then later advised that an 18-year old male houseguest was still inside.
Evans Center's Engine 1 crew consisted of Captain Pat Davis, Fire Fighter Clint Soemann - the operator, and Fire Fighters Bruce Green Jr. and Tiger [Earl] Schmittendorf. Engine 1 laid a four-inch supply line in from the street and Green and Schmittendorf entered the house through the garage as the chiefs stretched their interior attack lines for them.
The residents reportedly could not tell the firemen for sure which room the youth was located in on the second floor. The fire fighters saw heavy smoke and flame blowing at them from the bedroom to the left at the top of the stairs, and impinging on their passage in the hallway.
Without the protection of a charged hose line, Green and Schmittendorf climbed the stairs and began their search. Carrying Evans Center's Thermal Imaging Camera, Schmittendorf entered the bedroom to the right. Not far inside the room, he saw and felt the victim and yelled to his partner in the hallway.
Together, the two fire fighters dragged the unconscious male from the bedroom. Schmittendorf stayed at the top of the stairs to assist in extinguishing the fire with Highland Fire Fighter Dan Sargent, while Green continued with the victim down the stairs to waiting EMS personnel.
The EMS team worked to revive the youth who was in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts enroute to Lake Shore Hospital were successful in that the victim regained a pulse and was breathing with assistance. He was later transferred to Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead early the next day.
Angola, Brant, Eden, Evans Center, Highland, and North Evans fire fighters worked at the scene or were on standby for the other companies. The fire was believed to be caused by an electrical device or a candle, according to North Evans District Chief Nick Mecca. Frozen fire hydrants hampered the water supply that had to be shuttled from tankers, Mecca added.
Evans Center Chief Dennis Allen presented both fire fighters with written commendations for their heroic efforts. This was Green's first rescue.
Schmittendorf, along with Evans Center Fire Fighter Bob Zamrok, rescued a 17-year old girl from a fire under similar circumstances on September 5, 1994. She was staying at a friend's apartment after a reported all-night party at the residence. She too died as a result of the fire.
