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Firefighters rescue 2 children from Ill. house fire

A witness said the children were trapped, screaming, “Help, I can’t breathe. We are going to die.”

The Chicago Sun Times

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Two youngsters were hospitalized Wednesday after being pulled from a burning home by Waukegan fire crews.

A 9-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy were home alone during the fire near Midlane Golf Resort, television reports said.

Resident Tracey Pratcher said she was walking with her 3-year-old grandson when she spotted smoke.

“I saw smoke coming out of the bedroom windows, and I heard kids screaming, and I went next door” to call for help, said Pratcher, aided by neighbor Terry Dejaresco in contacting the fire department.

Dejaresco told WLS-TV: “They were just screaming, ‘Help, I can’t breathe. . . . We are going to die.’ ”

Crews rescued the pair about 3:50 p.m. Officials were unable to provide their medical conditions.

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