Still pictures from fire including father’s arrest
Courtesy of Bill O'Neill at Elginet.com. Click the image for more from Elginet.com.
We knew there was more to this story after closely watching the video above, but didn’t know exactly what was behind the actions of the man now identified as James R. Beavers. Officials in Elgin, Illinois now say Beavers, who fought with firefighters at the scene of the house fire (after they rescued his two-year-old son), set the house on fire. The home belongs to the parents of the 31-year-old Beavers.
Beavers is being held on $100,000 bond. Officials aren’t providing details on how the fire started. Besides arson charges, Beavers is accused of resisting arrest and two counts of obstructing a firefighter.
Beavers lived at his parents home with his wife and their seven children. Apparently, only Beavers and the tw0-year-old were home when the fire broke out.
Read more at DailyHerald.com and SuburbanChicagoNews.com.
Below is our earlier posting on this story:
I know we have been alerting you to a lot of must see video in recent days and we are in danger of overusing the phrase (just hype from those damn TV reporters). But this one sure is interesting.
In the first shot on the video, at six seconds in, you will see a firefighter coming out the front door carrying a two-year-old boy. The boy is reported fine following the fire Thursday afternoon at 517 Cumberland Trail. Firefighters were also able to rescue three of four dogs in the home.
According to news reports the child’s father and grandmother had escaped the fire, but the child was still inside. You see the father in a coat standing in the driveway pointing to firefighters and telling them something as the child is brought out and continuing to make his point afterwards.
At 2:05, now with the coat off, dressed in a t-shirt, the father notices the person shooting this video. At 2:15 the man confronts the photographer.
When he walks away from the picture taker, the father then gets into it with firefighters, marching up to the driveway (3:15) quite agitated. He appears to shove and push one firefighter (who does not appear to escalate the situation). At some point after police arrived the father was arrested.
Here are more details in excerpts from an article by Stephen Ross Johnson at SuburbanChicagoNews.com:
Elgin Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Bruce said once emergency personnel arrived, they soon were informed by occupants that a baby boy remained inside, sitting in a high chair on the second floor of the tri-level home.
He said Elgin firefighter Kevin Hartmann went inside and was able to find and remove the child just as smoke was entering the room.
“The smoke was just starting to build up right near the baby,” Bruce said. “Another couple of minutes and the baby probably would have been overcome by the smoke.”
Three dogs also were rescued from the home, Bruce said, but a fourth was not recovered.
An already highly emotional scene became even more dramatic, Bruce said, when the baby’s father suddenly became irate and began to assault several firefighters, requiring Elgin police to restrain him.
Elgin Police Sgt. Dan O’Shea said the man, who had yet to be identified, was being detained as of Thursday evening. He said it was not known what charges would be filed, if any.
There is more about the fire in this excerpt from an article by Harry Hitzeman with DailyHerald.com:
The baby’s grandmother tried to put out the fire when it started, but she had to leave the home, Bruce added.
The blaze, which started in the first-floor bedroom that belonged to the boy’s father, was brought under control in about 30 minutes, Bruce said.
Also on STATter911 …
- Quick Takes – November 23, 2009
- Stroller and baby struck by train. Baby survives. Watch the video. – October 16, 2009
- The fireground audio to go with the picture of the day. Rescues in the Bronx. – February 16, 2010
- Quick Takes – November 18, 2009
Nice job by the brothers in Elgin. Let him out of ‘the can’ if he personally appologizes to each and every individual there. A public appology in the newspaper would also be part of it.
I give the brother who the father was shoving a lot of credit. The town I work in, he would have been on the driveway being appropriately restrained until the PD got there.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=338702
The father has been charged with arson.
I’m ok with winner of the day of the dumbass award. Could be other qualifing candidates but at this time my votes solid for this guy!
those firefighters showed extreme professionalism and restraint in that situation. I know if I/one of my brothers was shoved by someone on a fire scene, he would have been either on the ground or on the receiving end of a nice “talking to”. They stayed focused on the task at hand, and did not let that scumbag distract them from their ultimate duty- saving that house. Congratulations to all involved, you have set a good example to firefighters across the world.
What kind of person lights their house on fire with a kid inside? Looks like the fd did a good job
Mdff2000, the same kind that gets in a physical altercation with firefighters…
Obviously, this assclown has issues. This video also shows the lie about vinyl siding not being a fire hazard. While Im sure we are seeing only part of the fire fight, I got to ask, #1 WHERE did they go with the child they rescued? It LOOKS like he went back inside with him! There must be a beezeway between the house and garage or something. #2, whos the guy in dark uniform pretending to be a truck company in the front yard? Hes not in any PPE and is a hazard all by himself with that ladder. Those of you who like watching schmucks like this father/arsonist get their 15 minutes of fame should visit Lenslinger’s Scmuck alert website. Us pro photogs send these photog/schmuck confrontation videos to him for the world to see.
Steve,
I was thinking the same exact thing. Wasn’t it that traveling circus-Chief Ronnie Coleman that told us (while being PAID as a spokesman for the vinyl siding industry!!!!) it was safe and firefighters were lying about its dangers. I’d like to shove this awesome video up his azz!
he should be charged with attemted Murder too!
It was noted some brothers left their own to diffuse the situation. I know my shift would have group thumped this guy until the PD arrived.
I agree on the vinyl siding issue. Anyone also note the lack of positive results from the vent other than brothers standing above fire?
Ah yes…proof that vinyl siding burns….let us put this one to bed please. Call the naysayers and show them the video.
Being a Police Officer and Fire photographer who has been to many fire incidents on duty and off. I would have immediately restrained the Guy and at the first hint of resistance, he would have been on the ground face first. I also would have never let those family members stay in the driveway. I AGREE with the other post also. What type of individual would set the house on fire with his Kid inside and then leave without the Child. My last breath as a father would have been trying to rescue my Son. What a dirtbag supreme. Side note, when I am working and you put your hands on any emergency worker. You might as well hit me, cause you are being treated as if you hit me.
The guy with the ladder is the Engineer of the first-due Engine, most departments around here do not require the Engineer to be dressed initially. While not commenting on his methods specifically, at least he was being proactive and getting a second means of egress after his lines were in service. Elgin runs EMS as part of the FD and has a Lieutenant and 2 FF/PM’s assigned to each ambulance. They get at least 2 ambulances on any General alarm assignment and possibly 3. I believe the brother that made the rescue handed the child off to the second-due ambulance as he was in the driveway while the camera was blocked by a tree and the front of the Engine.
Nobody has a right to put their hands on you. When we go on a emergency run, we did not create or cause the emergency, we are there trying to help out. Granted, yes, we can enter some messed up situations with people being upset and all, but as soon as someone puts their hands on you you gotta right to protect yourself. This guy should have been “dealt with” immediatly by the whole group and not just one of the guys. I can’t really tell, but he does not look hurt or anything? Did he not try to get the kid out? If he was sucha bad ass why did he not get the kid out or at least try to? Remember, WHEN IN DOUBT,KNOCK EM OUT. Be safe from down south, my brothers.
Well, I guess you could sum this up by saying, what they lack in tactics, they make up with patience? I guess that’s right.
Good job dealing with “Brawling Beavers” and the grab, but the rest actual firefighting effort? I use the term effort very loosley here.
Is that an actual riding assignment? Running all over the fireground with a straight ladder busting out windows at will? Whatever happened to leaving them in place after you take a window, in case some situation arises where you need it to get out. Can “Two Legged Ladder Truck Guy”, pick huys out of windows too while he makes his rounds?
Just a thought. Can’t believe people actually put this stuff out there for all to see.
Beavers set his family’s house on fire after he got into a fight with his girlfriend. He has been threatening to set home on fire for weeks. The fires started in the bed were Beavers was burning his girlfriend clothes.
anonymous nov 26 You seem to know alot about what happened?????
Great use of roof ventilation.
Yes, I know the people. There’s a whole lot more to this story.
Anonymous nov 30th I know them too. Anything else ud like to share?
No Doubt he was fighting with his GF…Setting her clothes on fire? yeppp I believe that…Leaving Braiden in the house to burn? NEVER He Loved His Kids…Too Much… I Believe the Drama Which Ultimately Ended in Tragedy.. Too Bad..So Sad For allll Of Them
You Reap What You Sew…
Yeah he loves his kids so much he abuses them. He loves them so much he leaves them homeless. He loves them so much he leaves his parents to support them never making an effort to do it himself. He loves them so much he started that fire while his son was in the house and didnt attempt to get him out of there. If that’s love, i want no part of it. Someone who knows, you know how to hide, you know how to cover, you know how to look through rose colored glasses. Good luck with that, maybe Beavers should love you see how you like it.
seven kids with a piece of dirt father that sets the family home on fire. I like that they have a fund in the ‘beaver’ name. i think they should take up a fund for the firefighters. what a punk. bet your kids look up to you now, huh?toughguy
the father needs an -=- whipping and needs to be charged with attempted murder. good work on the roof vent. and great job to all the ff who were thete god blessyou nall another life saved!!
The Truth always comes out in the end… Good Luck On Your Judgements