Normal fire department saves teen from Sunday fire

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — The Normal Fire Department saved a 13-year-old from a mobile home fire in Northmeadow Village Sunday Morning.

The fire department responded to the area near Second and B streets in Northmeadow Village at 1:50 a.m. after a report of a fire with a person possibly trapped inside, Normal Fire Spokesman Matt Swaney said.

When crews arrived on the scene, they saw a heavy fire throughout the home. Firefighters aggressively searched the home while fighting the fire and located a boy in a bedroom.

Swaney said the boy showed no signs of life when he was removed from the home, but paramedics were able to restore his pulse and sporadic breathing while transporting him to the hospital.

The teen arrived at the hospital in critical condition. There has not been an update to his condition at this time. No other injuries were reported. Swaney said other family members were unable to reach the boy due to heavy smoke and ran to a neighbor to call 911.

“Our crews faced intense fire conditions when they arrived, but they didn’t hesitate to go inside and search for anyone who might still be trapped,” Normal Fire Chief Mick Humer said. “This incident is a stark reminder of how quickly fire can spread and how critical working smoke alarms are in giving people time to escape. Please, take a moment today to make sure your smoke alarms are installed and tested — it truly can mean the difference between life and death.”

The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. The home is considered a total loss.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.