By S.M. Chavey
Pioneer Press
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Dick McCartan was driving home Wednesday afternoon when he noticed a fire at the house across the street from his own in Maplewood. McCartan saw smoke everywhere and flames shooting out of the side window.
A neighbor informed him that the fire department had been called, but he didn’t know if anyone was inside.
“Of course he’s in there. He’s always in there,” McCartan said of his elderly neighbor.
McCartan quickly ran into the house in the 1800 block of Kennard Street to try to save his friend, John Grogan, 76.
He found him curled up in a fetal position against the side door, burned and bleeding from the head. His pants were down around his knees. McCartan said Grogan was most likely trying to escape, and his pants must have been on fire.
Upon arrival, emergency responders helped McCartan pull the unconscious Grogan from the house. Paramedics began treating Grogan immediately, but McCartan said he knew there was no chance of survival.
“To see a human being burnt that bad and bleeding — no,” McCartan said.
Grogan was taken to St. Paul’s Regions Hospital suffereing from burns and smoke inhalation. The fire department was alerted around 9:30 a.m. Thursday that he had died.
McCartan suffered some bruises and burns during the rescue.
McCartan had taken care of Grogan for several years, checking on him every morning, bringing him his mail, listening to country music with him and just chatting about life.
“He was a good friend,” McCartan said.
Grogan had been on oxygen for several years. He would have turned 77 on July 6.
The fire was contained to two rooms of the house, but the rest of the house was damaged by smoke. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“On behalf of the department, we offer our condolences to the victim’s family and friends,” Maplewood Fire Chief Steve Lukin said in a statement.
Copyright 2017 Pioneer Press