DIXFIELD — A local man suffered third-degree burns over 45 percent of his body in a kitchen fire at his Averill Hill Road farmhouse Tuesday evening, Fire Chief Scott Dennett said.

Richard Roberts was listed in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland late Tuesday night, a nursing supervisor said.

Dennett said the most significant burns were to Roberts’ hands and arms.

Roberts, who is about 78 years old, lived alone at 97 Averill Hill Road, the chief said.

The fire was reported at 5:59 p.m. and the first firefighter arrived within 6 minutes and got Roberts out of his 1½-story, older farmhouse, Dennett said.

Roberts was taken to Rumford Hospital for the flight to Portland.

Advertisement

Dennett said the small fire was confined to the kitchen and extinguished quickly.

“There was very little damage to the structure itself,” Dennett said.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office was at the scene to investigate the cause, the chief said.

There were no injuries among the 15 to 20 firefighters who went to the fire.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: