Lubbock Father Rescues Baby from Burning House

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal ^ | 12-07-02 | Reynolds, John

[Theodore R.]

Father rescues baby; both hurt in house blaze

BY JOHN REYNOLDS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

As Cruz Orozco Jr. stood Friday afternoon outside the burned-out house at 1909 40th St. that had been his sister's home, he had no doubts as to how he felt about his brother-in-law, Reynaldo Rosas.

"He's a hero," Orozco said. "He saved my sister's life. I'm proud to be his brother-in-law."

Scarcely 12 hours earlier, Rosas severed an artery trying to smash open an escape route for his wife, Linda, out of their burning home. He then braved flames twice to rescue their 7-month-old daughter, Clarice Ariel.

However, heroes might not have been necessary if there had been a smoke detector in the home, fire investigator Garett Nelson said.

With a working smoke detector, "this would've been a bad day (for the Rosas family) but not a tragedy," he said.

The detector would have gotten the family up and out of the house before the flames got out of control, he said.

He noted that more than 5,000 people die and more than 25,000 are injured annually in home fires nationwide.

"Ninety percent (of those) would not die or be hurt if they had ... a $5 smoke detector," he said.

Reynaldo Rosas remained in critical condition while his daughter had been upgraded to serious condition Friday night at University Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Rosas suffered burns on 40 percent of his body, while Clarice Ariel suffered burns on 10 percent of her body, Nelson said.

Linda Rosas did not suffer significant burns, but she required stitches for a gash across her abdomen. She cut herself while climbing out her bedroom window, Nelson said.

Relatives from both sides of the family stood vigil at UMC's burn unit most of the day.

Rosas' brother, Roland, said Friday afternoon that his brother was in surgery to relieve pressure in his right arm. However, his condition was improving.

Clarice Ariel appeared to be out of danger, he said.

While saying he was thankful for his brother's improving condition, Rosas said he has been "in shock" all day.

Linda Rosas was "taking it real hard," Rosas said. Because of her injuries, she hasn't been able to hold her baby, he said.

About 5:30 a.m., packing material that had fallen on the floor furnace grate in the living room ignited.

The flames spread quickly to a nearby sofa, which soon began to give off thick, oily black smoke, Nelson said.

The smoke carried enormous quantities of carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that binds to hemoglobin more than 200 times more easily than oxygen, Nelson said.

Massive doses of the gas lead to confusion and disorientation.

"Extremely intelligent people have made silly mistakes because of carbon monoxide," Nelson said. "It diminishes the ability to think."

The investigator believed Reynaldo Rosas was suffering from the effects of the gas because he walked upright through the smoke and heat to his daughter's room.

He could have avoided the intense heat by keeping low to the floor, Nelson said.

Nelson noted that magazines sitting on the floor scarcely two feet from the flames were not even singed.

Linda Rosas awakened to the sounds of her baby crying. Initially assuming her child was hungry, she roused her husband after seeing flames, Orozco said.

The couple set to work breaking out their bedroom window. Reynaldo Rosas grabbed a heavy dumbbell to break the glass.

He then ran to his daughter's aid. He used the main hallway, walking by the living room where the flames were concentrated, Orozco said.

Linda Rosas could not lift the unwieldy dumbbell to break out more of the window, so she used her bare hands. In the process, she received multiple cuts on her hands and arms.

She then climbed to safety and took Clarice Ariel from her husband as he handed the girl through the window, Orozco said.

Someone driving by the home stopped and helped Reynaldo Rosas, who was bleeding heavily from his arm, to the front yard, Orozco said.

Family members did not know what the young couple will do for housing. Once they leave the hospital, they will stay temporarily with family, Orozco said.

While the flames were limited to the living room, smoke heavily damaged the rest of the house, Nelson said.

Damage was estimated to be in excess of $50,000, he said.

However, "they're alive," Orozco said. "You have to appreciate God for that."

jreynolds@lubbockonline.com 766-8725