Hero who saved woman in fire dies

A man described by the Las Vegas Fire Department as a hero for rescuing a woman confined to a wheelchair died Wednesday of burns received in a house fire July 11.

The man accused of setting the blaze was arrested on murder and arson charges at about the time 28-year-old Nick Boonkum died.

Boonkum suffered third-degree burns over 45 percent of his body. Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said Boonkum was burned when the fire, which broke out in a hallway after witnesses say they heard a loud explosion, flashed into his bedroom when he opened his door after hearing the smoke alarm go off.

Boonkum dove out his bedroom window, receiving a number of lacerations in addition to his severe burns. According to Szymanski, the man then broke a window of the next bedroom and went inside to rescue Tami LeFrancois. LeFrancois, who has multiple sclerosis, was in bed when Boonkum lifted her and carried her down a hall engulfed in flames.

Szymanski said after the woman was safe, Boonkum collapsed and was taken to University Medical Center, where he died Wednesday in the hospital's burn unit.

LeFrancois, 32, and Loon Boonkum, 84, Nick Boonkum's mother, were taken to UMC suffering from smoke inhalation. They were treated and released.

Szymanski said the 19-year-old suspect, Jontue Joseph LeFrancois, identified as Tami LeFrancois' husband, is being held at the Clark County Detention Center. He is being charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree arson.

The fire, which began at 10:21 a.m., was at 1317 Winwood St., near Vegas Drive and Jones Boulevard. It caused an estimated $70,000 worth of damage to the house.

archive