Man to be Jailed in Connection with Massive Levittown Fire

A Levittown man whose mentally challenged son was left alone and then accidentally started the four-alarm Racquet Club apartments fire that left more than 100 homeless will spend the next six to 23 months in prison.

Hugh McKavanagh, 59, was sentenced Wednesday in Doylestown before Judge Rea Boylan. In addition to the prison time, two years of probation will be required. As part of his probation, the 59-year-old has restrictions to keep him from consuming alcohol or being in businesses that serve it.

McKavanagh was charged in late summer by Middletown Township police for leaving his 16-year-old son home alone inside apartment B 20 while he went out to drink with friends. The boy caused the fire when he emptied an ashtray with hot embers into the kitchen trash in an effort to help clean up. From there, a fire started and ended up engulfing the large B building in the Mdidletown Township apartment complex, authorities say. His 16-year-old son functions at the level of a child aged four and six years.

In January, McKavanagh plead guilty to one count of misdemeanor child endangerment.

“It’s appropriate that he is going to face the consequences and see the inside of jail for some time,” Deputy District Attorney Mark Furber said following the sentencing this week.

The fire was spotted by McKavanagh as he walked back to his apartment to change clothes, police said. He was changing clothes so he could go with his friends to Parx Casino in Bensalem.

The 16-year-old boy, with the help of McKavanagh’s friends, jumped from the second floor balcony, police said. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center and treated for an arm injury and smoke inhalation, while his father suffered burns to his feet and was transported for treatment.

A medic who arrived to treat McKavanagh said the injured man was drinking alcohol outside the C building as the massive fire raged on, according to court documents.

Police said a detective spoke with McKavanagh at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia several hours after the fire; the smell of alcohol on McKavanagh’s breath was picked up by that detective.

McKavanagh showed up with alcohol on his breath at his pre-scheduled October preliminary hearing and was visibly intoxicated when he was arraigned.

An official said McKavanagh’s drinking problem was so serious he suffered physical symptoms of alcohol withdraw. He also admitted to medical staff that he consumed an average of a half case of beer a day, court papers say.

Before his arrest, several residents heckled McKavanagh and his ex-wife and some reportedly called him a “drunk.” Police were called for at least one of the disputes.

McKavanagh has several prior arrest dating back to the 1970s. It was announced in court one prior was for assault and the other for arson. He also has a 2008 DUI arrest.

As part of the sentencing, there is no conditions about McKavanagh having unsupervised contact with his son. Some of his children, including his 16 year old, and ex-wife moved to Florida in early November.

Furber said McKavanagh complied with a judges order to seek treatment for alcohol dependence and will turn himself over to the prison in the coming weeks.

Previous:

• Father Pleads Guilty to Child Endangerment in Racquet Club Fire Case
• PHOTOS & VIDEO: 4-Alarm Fire at Racquet Club Apartments
• WATCH: Helmet Cam Footage & Scanner Traffic from Racquet Club Fire
• Levittown Heroes Receive Standing Ovation
• Young Racquet Club Residents Honored for Extreme Heroism
• Baseball Card Collection Found in Fire Rubble
• Despite Loss, Fire Victims Feel ‘Blessed”
• Donations Pour in for Fire Victims
• Overhead Images Show Extent of Fire Damage
• 4-Alarm Fire Investigation Ongoing; 4 Hurt
• Young Boy Springs Into Action, Saves Residents in Racquet Club Blaze
• Perspectives From the Fire at Racquet Club Apartments
• How to Help the Fire Victims 
• Cause of Massive Fire Revealed, Man Charged
• Suspected Charged in Racquet Club Fire Headed to Trial