RICHMOND — A local boy who was burned in a house fire Sunday is in critical condition at a Boston hospital this morning.

Michael Coston, 9, was in critical but stable condition, according to a spokeswoman at Shriners Hospital for Children.

Coston suffered burns over 60 percent of his body Sunday when fire broke out at his River Road home. He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center by Gardiner Ambulance, according to Richmond Fire Chief Andrew Pierce, and later flown to Boston.

A call to 911 came from the home at 395 River Road at about 10:41 a.m., dispatch logs say. Pierce said the house was ablaze when firefighters from numerous towns responded to the scene. Coston was outside when firefighters arrived.

He said fire damage appeared to be confined to the second story, but that a lot of water had been used to try to douse the fire, and much of the water remained in the first floor.

The fire closed Route 24 for several hours, and firefighters and police worked to detour traffic.

An investigator from the Office of the State Fire Marshal confirmed that fire had resulted from the injured boy’s playing with a lighter.

Pierce said the fire started in one upstairs room and spread quickly to the attic.


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