1. Mother’s Day house fire near Grayslake
2. Disabled mother escape home.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The tragic incident unfolded early Sunday morning in unincorporated Grayslake, where a devastating house fire claimed the life of a man. The family of the deceased revealed that the man, identified as Thomas Morley, heroically assisted his disabled mother in escaping the flames before attempting to rescue their beloved dogs.
Emergency Response
Upon receiving a distress call at around 12:45 a.m., the Gurnee Fire Department, Grayslake Fire Protection District, and Lake County Sheriff’s Office quickly mobilised to the scene on West Winnebago Drive. Responding authorities were informed of a victim trapped inside the engulfed property.
Despite the valiant efforts of the sheriff’s deputies who arrived first, heavy smoke prevented them from entering the premises, as reported by Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Tragically, Thomas Morley, aged 44, lost his life in the blaze. The homeowner, a 63-year-old woman, informed deputies that her son had been attempting to escape the inferno. Firefighters arrived swiftly at the scene, conducting a thorough search of the property and deploying hose lines to combat the fire.
“They were able to remove our victim with serious injuries,” mentioned Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens.
Despite being rushed to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Morley succumbed to his injuries. A preliminary autopsy conducted by Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek revealed that Morley’s cause of death was inhalation of combustion by-products from the fire.
Further toxicology testing, including carbon monoxide assessments, are currently pending.
Devastating Loss
The fire also claimed the lives of one or two dogs, with the property suffering extensive damage to the bedroom and living room areas. Although the blaze was brought under control within 15-20 minutes, the house was deemed uninhabitable due to the severity of the smoke and fire damage.
A Heroic Effort
Phyllis Campbell, the mother who narrowly escaped the inferno, recounted how her son, Thomas Morley, bravely assisted her in exiting the burning property. Despite her disability, Morley ensured his mother’s safety before attempting to rescue their cherished pets.
Tragically, Morley succumbed to the smoke before he could save the dogs, as confirmed by firefighters who later discovered him inside the property.
Currently, Phyllis Campbell is being supported by her son-in-law, Dave Schlagman, as she grieves the loss of her son. While insurance will cover the property damage, additional expenses such as funeral arrangements remain uncovered.
In a bid to assist Phyllis during this challenging time, a GoFundMe account has been set up by Schlagman, garnering over £6,000 in donations.
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– Mother’s Day house fire near Grayslake
– Disabled mother escape home.
