02-22-2006, 09:09 PM
Autistic child killed in apartment fire
By Benjamin Y. Lowe
Philadelphia Daily News
Posted on Wed, Feb. 22, 2006
An autistic 5-year-old was killed in an apartment fire in Delaware County early today.
Skyler LeClair, of the 2300 block of Darby Road, had lived in a first-floor apartment with his mother, Nancy, until his death at about 2 a.m.
The 65 people who live at the five-story Eagle Tower apartments could be in temporary residences for up to two weeks.
Police said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The fire started in LeClair's apartment, police said, but disclosed few other details.
Skyler LeClair, who was a kindergartener at Oakmont Elementary School in Haverford Township, was pronounced dead at Delaware County Hospital. His mother was taken to Crozer Chester Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Police said six other people were taken to hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
Autopsy results from the Delaware County Medical Examiner could be available tomorrow.
Haverford police Sgt. Michael Glenn said the investigation into what caused the blaze also could be completed by tomorrow. He said residents dialed 911 to report the blaze at 1:57 a.m.
Residents removed personal belongings this afternoon and said they would be staying with family, friends or at a nearby hotel. They said about 10 children lived in the 63-unit building. Most residents were elderly and needed help escaping the building.
"Mostly older men live here," said resident Kortesa Prokovas, 56. "A lot of the people here have medical problems."
Skyler and Nancy LeClair had lived in their first-floor apartment for about three years.
"He was always outside, and friendly," Greg Fletcher, 24, said of Skyler.
Mary Beth Lauer, a district spokeswoman, declined to discuss Skyler LeClair's schooling. She said grief counselors were brought in to explain why he was not in school today.
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By Benjamin Y. Lowe
Philadelphia Daily News
Posted on Wed, Feb. 22, 2006
An autistic 5-year-old was killed in an apartment fire in Delaware County early today.
Skyler LeClair, of the 2300 block of Darby Road, had lived in a first-floor apartment with his mother, Nancy, until his death at about 2 a.m.
The 65 people who live at the five-story Eagle Tower apartments could be in temporary residences for up to two weeks.
Police said the cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The fire started in LeClair's apartment, police said, but disclosed few other details.
Skyler LeClair, who was a kindergartener at Oakmont Elementary School in Haverford Township, was pronounced dead at Delaware County Hospital. His mother was taken to Crozer Chester Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Police said six other people were taken to hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
Autopsy results from the Delaware County Medical Examiner could be available tomorrow.
Haverford police Sgt. Michael Glenn said the investigation into what caused the blaze also could be completed by tomorrow. He said residents dialed 911 to report the blaze at 1:57 a.m.
Residents removed personal belongings this afternoon and said they would be staying with family, friends or at a nearby hotel. They said about 10 children lived in the 63-unit building. Most residents were elderly and needed help escaping the building.
"Mostly older men live here," said resident Kortesa Prokovas, 56. "A lot of the people here have medical problems."
Skyler and Nancy LeClair had lived in their first-floor apartment for about three years.
"He was always outside, and friendly," Greg Fletcher, 24, said of Skyler.
Mary Beth Lauer, a district spokeswoman, declined to discuss Skyler LeClair's schooling. She said grief counselors were brought in to explain why he was not in school today.
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