The condition of a Richmond man pulled from a burning building early Christmas morning has been upgraded to fair at Maine Medical Center.
As he continues to recover, a GoFundMe page has been set up for 30-year-old Wade Welner, who lost all of his belongings in the fire.
“The most we can ask is for prayer during his recovery but anything would be helpful,” his sister writes on the crowd funding page created on Christmas Day.
A fire was reported at 12:40 a.m. at 34 Main St., in Richmond Christmas morning and public safety personnel responding were told there may be someone trapped inside.
Richmond Police Officer Chris Giles was first to arrive and then Sagadahoc County Sheriff ’s Cpl. Ian Alexander — also a longtime, Richmond firefighter. The two ran into the house, located Welner through the thick smoke and pulled him to safety. He suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to the hospital in serious condition.
According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the only other occupant of the building heard the building’s fire alarms and got out of the house uninjured.
The second floor of the building was destroyed. Investigators are still attempting to determine how the fire started.
The Wade Welner Disaster Recovery Fund had raised more than half the $ 5,000 goal by Tuesday morning.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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