The news is encouraging for three year old William Lupan. The toddler was critically injured by exploding illegal fireworks July 4th on South Beach and has been moved out of pedriatic intensive care to his new room, according to the Lupan family.
The Family reports Intensive Care doctors at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland have removed Baby B off the ventilator and the toddler is breathing on his own. Billy has been very emotional as doctors ween him off all the drugs. Billy remains very weak, he can’t lift his arms very much or sit up alone. The family is cautiously optimistic, fingers crossed, as Billy continues to improve. When the Lupans asked him to eek out a smile, he gave it his best try.
Community response has been awesome.
The GoFundMe page has been discontinued.
The Lupan family shares its profound appreciation for community support.
The Board of Supervisors has assigned Darrin Short and Valerie Starkey to its Ad Hoc Committee. Both will meet with City Councilors Mayor Blake Inscore and Kelly Schellong and Harbor Commissioners Harry Adams and Gerhard Weber in sitting down with Cal Fire officials who oversee enforcement of all fireworks laws. Illegal fireworks have vexed law enforcement for years since an initial crackdown on illegal fireworks was implemented for just one year, in 2012.
Lack of resources continues to challenge enforcement of existing state law and local ordinances.
Sheriff Garrett Scott states 90 percent of South Beach is controlled by State Parks. The Sheriff estimated 2500 people crowded onto South Beach to enjoy the organized Jetty Show and sadly lamented the explosions which critically injured Billy Lupan and seriously injured 14 others, were tragic. Sheriff Scott, Chief Richard Griffin and State Parks will join the 2X2X2 Committee in helping Cal Fire develop more resources and personnel to extinguish illegal fireworks in Del Norte County.
The Committee plans to meet, expediently.
The two individuals arrested and charged in the South Beach tragedy, Levi Mills, 33 and Megan Warner, 32 posted $50,000 bonds each and are due back in Court to enter pleas, August 23.