The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Fire victim condition upgraded
Rescuer remains in critical condition
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: February 8, 2007
A young mother, who ran back into a fire last week in an unsuccessful attempt to save her toddler son, was upgraded to good condition Monday.
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A stranger who joined her in her attempt to rescue the child remains in critical condition at Detroit Receiving Hospital.
Latasha Wingard, 25, remains at the University of Michigan Medical Center, where she was taken in critical condition after being rescued from a burning home by Ypsilanti Township firefighters last week. Her son, Larry Hunter, 2, did not survive.
Nathaniel Cunnegan, 44, an Ypsilanti resident who was visiting a home behind Wingard's, entered the house to rescue the boy. He is being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning from smoke inhalation.
A coordinated community effort, led by Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson and McKinley Properties CEO Albert Berriz, is raising money for a funeral and proper burial for the lost child, finding the surviving family a new home and gathering replacement goods for the devastated family.
Berriz provided a corporate donation of $1,000 and Peterson matched it with one of his own. In addition, Cheney Academy in the Willow Run school district, where Wingard's two daughters attend, has been accepting donations of clothes and personal items.
Ypsilanti Township Fire Marshal Phil Stachlewitz said Wingard had initially run outside after she awoke to the fire, which was reported at 4:25 a.m. Jan. 31. Her boyfriend, Gerald Wyscaver, 25, got her children, Natasha Jenkins, 7, Aliyah Jenkins, 6, and Larry, from a back bedroom and broke out a window in the front bedroom.
Wyscaver passed the girls to Wingard through the broken window, but was forced to flee himself before getting the boy to safety. Stachlewitz said Wingard wrapped a blanket around herself and went back into the house through the broken window to save her son, accompanied by Cunnegan.
Ypsilanti Township firefighters arrived within two minutes of receiving the call from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, but by that time the only part of the house not engaged was the back bedroom, Stachlewitz said.
Firefighters Keith Harr and Mike Houghton and Fire Lt. Keith Wright were lifted by sheriff's deputies into the back bedroom window, where they quickly located Wingard and lifted her to safety through the window. But, as the fire raced toward them, the rescuers were ordered out of the house by Ypsilanti Fire Captain Kurt Owings. Firefighters then forced open the front door of the home and knocked back the flames enough to allow firefighters Harr and Mark Gerbo back inside.
The rescuers located Cunnegan on the floor underneath the window in the rear bedroom and, upon lifting him, discovered the boy underneath him. A firefighter scooped up the child and ran with him to the rescue squad vehicle.
The child was rushed to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival. Wyscaver and the girls were treated and released.
Stachlewitz said the fire started on or near a stove in the West Willow home. Firefighters found a melted pan on the stove. He also said he found no evidence of smoke detectors in the rented home.
Those wishing to contribute to the fund for the Wingard family can do so by contacting Citizens' Bank and asking about the Wingard Fund.
In addition, the family has asked for Meijer gift cards, an effort that is being coordinated by Mike Scholl, county human resources community collaborative coordinator. He can be reached at 1-734-544-6856. All further inquiries may be directed to Deputy County Administrator Verna McDaniel at 1-734-222-3401.
Kathleen Conat is a long-time Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for the Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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