ANSON — A man was flown to a Boston hospital Friday evening with respiratory problems and third-degree burns on about 40% of his body after trying to light a campfire with an accelerant on New Portland Road in North Anson.
The man’s brother suffered second-degree burns on his face and arms and that brother’s son, a child, received first-degree burns on his right arm during the incident, according to Anson fire Chief Stacy Beane, who was at the scene.
Beane, who was on duty as an EMT for Anson-Madison-Starks Ambulance at the time, said when the man tried to start the campfire with the accelerant, it blew up in his face. He was conscious at the scene and was taken by LifeFlight of Maine to Boston after it landed at Carrabec High School in Anson.
His brother and his brother’s son were taken by private vehicle to Redington-Fairview General Hospital, about 30 miles away in Skowhegan, and later, the brother was taken by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to Beane. She said the child was treated and released at Redington-Fairview and was taken home.
The incident, which occurred outside a North Anson home, was reported at 7:04 p.m., Beane said Saturday. She said the Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating the incident.
“They came to the scene and later on, they went to the hospital,” she said.
Asked about what advice she would give to people starting campfires, Beane said they should not use an accelerant at all unless it is specifically designed for campfires.
She said that with burns, there is a significant risk of infection and the victim loses body fluids and gets dehydrated. Respiratory issues can be serious and there can be burns inside one’s nose and lungs, she said. The respiratory drive can be cut off as a result, she said.
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