HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 06-29 One dead in Maplewood house fire, despite neighbor's rescue attempt PIONEER PRESS6/30/2017 One dead in Maplewood house fire, despite neighbor's rescue attempt — Twin Cities
NEWS
One dead in Maplewood house fire, despite
neighbor's rescue attempt
By ��. II�. �wIhIII��IIII:M � schavey@pioneerpress.com � Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: June 29, 2017 at 2:24 pm � UPDATED: June 29, 2017 at 5:46 pm
Dick McCartan was driving home Wednesday afternoon when he noticed a fire at the house across the street from his own in
Maplewood. McCartan saw smoke everywhere and flames shooting out of the side window.
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A neighbor informed him that the fire department had been called, but he didn't know if anyone was inside.
"Of course he's in there. He's always in there," McCartan said of his elderly neighbor.
McCartan quickly ran into the house in the 1800 block of Kennard Street to try to save his friend, John Grogan, 76.
He found him curled up in a fetal position against the side door, burned and bleeding from the head. His pants were down
around his knees. McCartan said Grogan was most likely trying to escape, and his pants must have been on fire.
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6/30/2017 One dead in Maplewood house fire, despite neighbor's rescue attempt — Twin Cities
Upon arrival, emergency responders helped McCartan pull the unconscious Grogan from the house. Paramedics began
treating Grogan immediately, but McCartan said he knew there was no chance of survival.
"To see a human being burnt that bad and bleeding— no," McCartan said.
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Grogan was taken to St. Paul's Regions Hospital suffereing from burns and smoke inhalation. The fire department was
alerted around 9:30 a.m. Thursday that he had died.
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6/30/2017 One dead in Maplewood house fire, despite neighbor's rescue attempt — Twin Cities
McCartan suffered some bruises and burns during the rescue.
McCartan had taken care of Grogan for several years, checking on him every morning, bringing him his mail, listening to
country music with him and just chatting about life.
"He was a good friend," McCartan said.
Grogan had been on oxygen for several years. He would have turned 77 on July 6.
The fire was contained to two rooms of the house, but the rest of the house was damaged by smoke. The cause of the fire is
underinvestigation.
"On behalf of the department, we offer our condolences to the victim's family and friends," Maplewood Fire Chief Steve
Lukin said in a statement.
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5. M. Chavey
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