Anaheim : Mother, Child Burned in Apartment Blaze

Hearing their screams, a neighbor rescued a mother and her 6-month-old son, who were critically burned when their apartment bedroom burst into flames early Tuesday, officials said.

Dela Cathey, 40, and her infant, Wesley, were in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns at UCI Medical Center in Orange, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Cathey’s two young daughters, who were sleeping in another bedroom, escaped from the flames. Helen, 3, and Vanessa, 5, were in good condition at the hospital, where they were being treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire in the apartment complex in the 2000 block of South Haster Street, was reported at 6 a.m., Fire Department spokesman Jim Ott said.

Ott said 44 firefighters from Anaheim and Garden Grove controlled the blaze within 40 minutes. The fire, whose origin was not known, gutted Cathey’s apartment and spread to an adjoining unit; two other units were slightly damaged. Damage was estimated at $125,000, he said.

Anaheim fire investigator Mike Feeney said flames started in Cathey’s bedroom as she and her son slept. Cathey broke a glass door to an outside patio but was unable to unlock the door to get out, Feeney said.

Next-door neighbor John Rutherford, hearing Cathey’s screams, raced to the door and unlocked it, leading her and the baby to safety, Feeney said.