Mother saves baby from burning Wilmington home

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August 31, 2010

By CASEY RYAN VOCK Contributing Writer The Press Republican Tue Aug 31, 2010, 08:26 PM EDT

WILMINGTON — A mother heroically saved her 2-year-old son from a fire that tore through the room where the boy was sleeping Tuesday afternoon.

Nancy Reed was outside by the swimming pool at her 873 Springfield Road home with her 6-year-old daughter, Bryley, just before 1:30 p.m. when she saw flames shooting out of the third story, where her 2-year-old son, Beck, was napping in a bedroom.

According to Wilmington Fire Chief Louis Adragna, one of the first firefighters to arrive at the home, Reed reacted swiftly, sprinting into the house, up the stairs and pulling the baby from the room, which was already starting to fill with flames.

She then stopped to evacuate her eldest daughter, 10-year-old Layla, from the second floor.

“She ran right up there and saved him,” Adragna said. “And then she grabbed the other child from the second floor. When we arrived on scene, the whole third floor was completely in flames.

“Thanks to her, everyone got out safe and everyone is OK.”

Upon their arrival, three Wilmington firefighters attacked the fire from the interior, and mutual aid was requested from departments in Jay, Upper Jay, Lake Placid and AuSable.

Nearly 40 firefighters turned out to help bring the fire under control before returning to service shortly after 4 p.m.

The home — owned by Nancy Reed and her husband, Brian Reed — was saved, although the family will not be able to live there until the damage is repaired.

“The whole upstairs, the third floor, is gone,” Adragna said. “And the first and second floors are still intact, but they have heavy water and smoke damage.”

The home is insured, according to Adragna.

“They are staying with family in Lake Placid now,” he said, adding that the North Country Chapter of the American Red Cross was notified of the fire and the family’s displacement.

The family lost many of their possessions in the home, including the children’s clothing.

Donations are being accepted for girls’ clothing in sizes 10 or 12 and 6X or 7, along with girls’ shoes, sizes 5 and 1. Also needed are boys’ toddler clothing, size 3T.

Donations can be made to the Reeds through Diane Kirby, a close friend of the family. Kirby can be reached at 946-2486.

The cause of the blaze is still undetermined and is being studied by the Essex County Emergency Services Fire Investigation Unit.