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Updated with Audio: 'WE CAN'T GET OUT'
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Audio conveys intensity of house fire in Warren
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN — If Patrolman Doug Hipple survives lung and skin damage suffered in a Tuesday morning arson at 368 Bonnie Brae Ave. NE, he may never return to police work.
Police radio and telephone transmissions released by the Warren Police Department suggest that it may have taken only about five minutes for Hipple to lose consciousness after entering the burning two-story home.
He and the three mentally disabled women he tried to save were eventually pulled out alive.
A newspaper carrier called 911 at 3:23 a.m. to report the fire and say that she had flagged down Hipple — and that Hipple was already trying to get in the house.
The first portable radio transmission from Hipple came about a minute later, when he said, “Advise FD [fire department], it’s an MRDD [Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities] group house. They can’t get them out.”
About a minute later, at 3:25 a.m., Hipple, apparently inside the house after kicking in the front door, is with the women and said, “We’re trying to get them moving now.”
Just more than one minute later, at 3:26 a.m., Hipple, with obvious concern in his voice, says, “Tell them [firefighters] to step it up. We can’t get out.”
At that point, Hipple had apparently taken the women down the stairwell but decided he couldn’t get out the front door because the fire had become too intense. Officials believe he couldn’t find the side-door exit because of the confusing nature of the stairways in the house.
A short transmission, apparently from Hipple, comes across at 3:26:30; he sounds like he is having trouble breathing.
About 15 seconds later, Sgt. Martin Gargas says, “We need FD [fire department] here now.”
Less than a minute later, at 3:27, Gargas, from outside the house, apparently able to see Hipple, says, “We’ve got them moved upstairs toward the back.”
A little over a minute later, at 3:28, Gargas, talking to Hipple, says, “Move to the east side,” which is the back of the house.
A short transmission from Hipple is heard that can’t be understood.
Gargas tells Hipple a short time later: “Bust a window. Get on the roof, Doug. Bust a window and get on the porch roof back here.”
Sometime between 3:28 and 3:30 a.m., Hipple apparently made his last portable radio transmission, which was a word that could not be understood.
Patrolman Brian Martinek and others tried several times around 3:32 a.m. to contact Hipple again, but there was no response.
At 3:33 a.m., Gargas says, “He’s probably unconscious” and says it probably won’t do any good to call Hipple anymore on the radio. The fire department is also there, trying to get into the back of the house, Gargas said.
Fire Chief Ken Nussle said it took a couple of minutes to knock down the fire to get inside and begin the rescue.
The first mention of Hipple having been rescued comes at 3:39 a.m., followed by reports of the women being removed from the house at 3:45 a.m.
Officers have been told Hipple’s condition is bad enough that he may never return to police work, Lt. Cathy Giovannone said Wednesday afternoon.
Officers wanting to do something on Hipple’s behalf have made some plans. First is a prayer service at 11:30 a.m. today in city council chambers on South Street. They are also making plans to start a fund at a bank so that his friends can contribute money to help the officer and his family — a wife and three small children.
Hipple, 38, was in a medically induced coma Tuesday after he was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital Burn Center. He had burns to his arm, back and ear, as well as lung damage, Giovannone said.
“The first 72 hours are critical,” she said, relating the information various officers have given her about Hipple’s condition.
Hospital officials would not provide information on Hipple on Wednesday night, but said the three women — Sheree Egry, 53, Donna Cassidy, 52, and Melissa Watson, 44 — were all in critical condition.
Giovannone said Hipple’s lung injuries are the greatest threat to his survival, and treatment for such injuries would likely take several months.
Although Hipple suffered burns, the skin damage was more likely because of heat than flame, Giovannone said. Hipple’s shirt, for example, was not burned, she said.
It’s still not clear how big the fire was when Hipple arrived at the home, Nussle said Wednesday. But it appears that the fire grew very large, very quickly as Hipple arrived.
“It burned very fast, very hot,” Nussle said, adding that some type of accelerant, such as a flammable liquid, was apparently used. One witness said the fire seemed to grow as if someone was dumping lighter fluid on it — that it “went up in an instant,” the fire chief said.
When firefighters were able to get inside, they carried or dragged the victims out the front door, Nussle said. Injuries to the women were primarily smoke inhalation, not burns to their skin.
Most of the fire damage was contained to the front porch and first-floor living room, Nussle said, but there was some fire damage to the second floor, and the entire house filled with smoke.
The female caretaker who escaped without serious injuries reported that she was on the first floor doing paperwork when Hipple banged on the doors to alert the occupants to the fire.
Giovannone said the fact that Hipple went into a burning house to save people doesn’t surprise her.
“That’s Doug. He’s the type who will go in and do like that. He’s not going to stand back and watch,” she said.
Nussle said it is disturbing to think that someone would set a fire at group home for mentally disabled women. “Who would want to harm those handicapped people?” he said.
runyan@vindy.com