Office of State Fire Marshal investigator Ken MacMaster, left, Winthrop Fire Chief Dan Brooks and Winthrop firefighter Mark Arsenault inspect a burn barrel Tuesday outside a residence in Winthrop. The resident of the Old Lewiston Road residence suffered serious burns to his lower extremities when the boots he was wearing caught fire, according to Winthrop Deputy Fire Chief David Currie. (Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal)
A man believed to be in his early 60s was taken to a Lewiston hospital Tuesday with severe burns to his legs after his boots caught fire.
The man’s identity was not immediately available.
Winthrop Fire Chief Dan Brooks said Tuesday night the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Winthrop Fire Department was sent to the home at 439 Old Lewiston Road shortly after 4:30 p.m. because of a report that a man’s boots were on fire.
Brooks said when firefighters arrived, they found a fire burning in a low barrel, perhaps the base of a 55-gallon drum, and the man had removed his pants and boots and was in a snowbank near the building.
“I think he was probably trying to cool his legs or feet,” Brooks said.
Winthrop Ambulance took the man to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for evaluation, and firefighters doused the fire, which had not spread beyond the barrel.
Because of the injury, Brooks said, the state fire marshal’s office was called to investigate.
“It’s not clear what happened yet,” Brooks said. “Anything else I say would just be speculation.”
Winthrop police Sgt. John Hall said the home is known to be a rental.
Winthrop property records show that Marisa Deblois, of Buckfield, owns the single-story ranch-style house with an attached garage.
Jessica Lowell — 621-5632
Twitter: @JLowellKJ
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