Man Braves Heat to Rescue Baby in Burning Home

Braving intense heat and smoke, a Dana Point man plunged into a burning garage Monday to save a 4-month-old baby after a series of explosions ignited a fire that seriously injured the child’s nursemaid.

The nursemaid, who was not identified, was in serious condition at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo with second-degree burns over 50% of her body, authorities said.

The baby, Laura Wilke, who was not injured, was returned to her mother after an examination.

Fire inspectors said the blaze was contained in the garage of the two-story house in the 24000 block of Eaton Lane. They estimated damage at $60,000. The cause of the explosions was under investigation.

Fire officials said the infant could have died if not for Howard Smith, a 49-year-old construction company employee.

Smith said he was inspecting a street curb about 100 feet from the house when the first of three to five explosions hit shortly before 3:30 p.m., sparking the fire and buckling the garage door.

“I heard what I thought was a child crying,” Smith said. “I had second thoughts, but I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do something.”

Smith said he first tried a side garage door but was thrown back by a wave of heat that singed his eyebrows.

He was able to enter the house through the front door and followed the baby’s cries to an upstairs bedroom, scooped up the child and raced outside.

“The whole time I was thinking, ‘God, no more explosions,’ ” Smith said. “It felt good to get out of there.”

Meanwhile, the nursemaid escaped the inferno and stumbled to the front lawn, yelling for help, neighbors said. Pam Ingersoll, who was standing across the street when the explosions began, rushed to her aid.

“She was screaming in pain when I reached her,” Ingersoll said. “I brought her inside and put wet towels on her. She told me she was doing the laundry in the garage when everything exploded, but she was in too much shock to say much else.”

Paramedics said the woman will be transferred to a UCI Medical Center burn ward as soon as she is stabilized.

Although the infant was located far from the blaze, fire officials said the smoke could have seriously injured or killed her.

“Howard definitely took a step above and beyond,” said Battalion Chief Don Forsyth of the Orange County Fire Department. “He risked his life to save that baby.”