SANFORD — A local man sustained serious burns Tuesday afternoon when fuel ignited as he was re-stoking his outdoor wood furnace.
Thomas Basinger, 39, was first taken to Goodall Hospital and then to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston by ambulance, accompanied by paramedics from Sanford Fire Department and medical personnel from Goodall Hospital, said Sanford Fire Chief Jeff Rowe.
Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said the State Fire Marshal’s Office reported that Basinger sustained burns to 90 percent of his body. The State Fire Marshal’s Office investigates anytime there is a fire-related injury.
Authorities at press time this morning said Basinger is in critical condition.
Rowe said firefighters got the call after 4 p.m. Tuesday.
He said Basinger, who lives at 572 Lebanon St., had been attempting to re-stoke the fire in his Wood Doctor outside furnace by applying liquid fuel ”“ firefighters are investigating and think it may have been diesel fuel ”“ when it ignited. Firefighters found a partially burned fuel can outside the furnace door.
Basinger’s wife, Karie, used a garden hose to extinguish the fire after hearing her husband’s cries for help and a passerby saw what was happening and helped her dowse the flames, said Rowe.
Sanford firefighters had originally called for rescue helicopters to transport Basinger, but two Maine helicopters were on other calls and then hampered by weather and a New Hampshire-based helicopter was unable to respond, also because of weather conditions.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
