BANGOR, Maine — A 47-year-old homeless man suffered serious burns to his lower body Friday morning as the result of a flash fire caused by a propane stove he was using inside his tent in Cascade Park.
The man, identified as Rodney Labby by the state fire marshal’s office, suffered burns from his ankles to his groin, Assistant Chief Rick Cheverie of the Bangor Fire Department said. The fire also burned Labby’s hair and beard off, Cheverie said.
Cheverie said Labby was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center. He was listed in fair condition Friday evening.
According to Cheverie, city firefighters were called to Cascade Park about 9:40 a.m. for a report of smoke on a hilltop and that a man had been burned in a remote section of the park.
When they arrived, fire crews learned that Labby had been using a propane stove inside a tent that he had purchased days before. The fire destroyed the tent and the man’s belongings.
Cheverie said the fire burned about an eighth of an acre of a pine forest in the park before it was extinguished.
Cheverie said the state fire marshal’s office assisted with the investigation.
He said the fire was deemed accidental and cited improper use of a cooking device as the cause.
Hope this poor guys luck changes.
my heart aches for these people who have no place to go during the cold winter months. it sickens me that there is not more housing offered for people who are down on their luck. this man has had everything taken away from him, and now his last few possessions that were probably his most treasured ones are gone. i am glad he is okay, and though the circumstances aren’t the best, at least he will have a warm bed to sleep in tonight.
There are homeless shelters in Bangor. He chose to sleep in a tent. If I was in his position I would also. Perhaps if there weren’t so many people abusing the system people who truly need it can be helped. While people need immediate help, it would be far better to be able to put people like this to work. Most people feel better about earning their way and I think a good program that needs to be implemented is a work for welfare program. One that includes training that will allow people to transition to a good job.
Of course he may have chosen to sleep in a tent and cook/heat inside it with a propane tank because of a mental illness that prevents him (Like thousands of other Mainers with mental or physical handicaps) from gaining employment in a job market that won’t even hire those with able minds and bodies.
I’m not opposed to “Work for Welfare” (I’ve never understood why those who receive it aren’t required to do “something“) but I also recognize that there are many people out there who are so disabled that putting them to work would be either cruel, dangerous for all involved, or an incredibly inefficient use of manpower and MONEY to support such efforts.
Actually, once your kids turn 12 you are required to work at least 20 hours a week to continue receiving benefits.
That’s news to me… but then again my only source of infomation on this subject is from listening to those of a certain nature complain about others who have been forced to use the welfare system. You know who I mean, those who don’t even have an armchair to stand on.
I have a sister that works 30 hours a week and goes to school full time that receives medical (nothing else) and she was told when her youngest turns 12 that she needed to make sure she didn’t drop below 20 or she’d lose the benefits. Once she graduates she’ll make enough working full time to cover her medical for her and the two boys.
WELL, AREN’T YOU JUST THE ARMCHAIR WIZARD OF KNOWLEDGE!
He probably sacrificed a few meals to purchase the ‘stove’, was hungry, and just trying to stay warm…
There are a limited number of beds at the homeless shelter. He may or may not have chosen not to sleep there.
I’m pretty sure he has been camping at that site since early last fall. In September I took my grandson there to have some photos taken. He wanted to climb to the top of the hill and have a picture by the fence. There was a man matching this one’s description camping in a very small tent. Maybe he wanted to be there instead of a very crowded homeless shelter. Very sad, indeed.
He must not have been an eagle scout . He would have known not to have a gas heater in the tent. I hope he will be ok and maybe gets the help he needs to live a productive life.
i don’t think this is the right time for snark jokes… further more, just because he’s homeless doesn’t mean he hasn’t lived a productive life, maybe he just fell on extremely hard times, honestly ya never know, and not knowing i really wouldn’t assume. we all know what happens when we assume… good day
Please do not take My comment too seriously. I find no humor in making fun of burn victims having had 3 degree burns myself . Some times people fall onto hard times and need a little help . Having been an alcoholic Years ago . I was fortunate enough to hold down a job or at least get unemployment. I have never been homeless but close a few times . I consider myself lucky to have done as well as I have in my life. Some people do need a little help. I wish this Man the best of luck.
I didn’t find your comment offensive. If it only included the first sentence that would be different. The second part is true and the third kind.
sent him to a bus station. I’m homeless myself for over one year.the state doesn’t do anything to help me out.lift the rug and swept me under it.
It too bad we do not have the help for the ones who need it seems like the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I know of many well to do people that get 10s or thousands in government aid. The people who really need the help the most are sometimes turned away or to proud to ask. Sometimes it all in who you know . Like one person house burns with insurance and everyone dose fund raiser. Another persons house burns with no insurance at and all the get is a hard time about the mess. I all people are not treated the same .
Nice job by Bangor Fire getting that out before it spread over that hill area.
Doc Bowie
Last time I checked, I was paying for a full-time police department to patrol this town. Given that Cascade Park is in the middle of town, I’m wondering if it might be reasonable to expect the cops to patrol the area and move this folks along to the shelter or the bus station.
Why? Was he bothering you or someone else?
It amazes me honestly, that this man was left alone, by our fine police force but they sure do move anyone holding a sign to promote the Occupy Movement along…Just goes to show you where the taxpayer’s money truly goes and how its spent…We wouldnt want anyone speaking out against politicians and the 1% but if you are one of the many homeless, go ahead and set yourself on fire…just do it quietly….Sick world.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Cascade Park way out State St near Dorothea Dix Hospital? If so that is hardly in the middle of town. This man wasn’t bothering anyone and was just trying to live, is my take on it. It is a tragedy that people are forced to live this way, when things in their life go horribly wrong. I hope he gets well and things get better for him.
c
No, Cascade park is not in the middle of downtown.
You didn’t feel that way when OWS was stinking up downtown Bangor…..
These people are all over Bangor and most other cities. They are at the airport, under our bridges, along the streams. I’d rather camp out than live in a shelter, wouldn’t you? The police can move them, but they just turn up somewhere else.
have you been at a shelter ? try the one in portland,maine.that’s why I live in my jeep for over one year.you can get rob,cut,etc,etc there.drugs are everywhere in portland shelter.I’m from bangor,maine. so please be careful what you say about homeless people. ” like this one….put him on a bus ” maybe we homeless should look up your adreess and move in with you. untill you live on the streets anywhere,you cann’t know what it’s like. AND I DON’T DO DRUGS OR ACHOL.I WORK TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK AS THERE ISN’T ANY JOBS ANYWHERE,ETC,ETC the state deosn’t help me out at all.
It’s to bad they don’t help you. There are thousands of people getting entitlements who shouldn’t, yet we still have some who need it and can’t get it. Maybe if we did drug test folks collecting welfare we would have more money to give the folks like you who really need it more help.
at the shelter,there tons of people from outer state moving here for the welfare.that’s what they told me.yes,there shouldbe drug test and ramdom testing on welfare people.they are people who collects up to $2,000 per month and stay at the shelter so they can drink,drugs,etc.I cann’t get food stamps because I live in my jeep. I owe money to c.cards+jeep.I could go bankurphy,but want to build a place in three years.got to have great credit for that.30×30 place.the cops don’t stop the hookers I see in the streets for two years.the same old ones that works the street anytime of day,night.portland,me rent is so high,that’s one other reasons the shelters are full.I see it all in portland,me.want to move outer that area.
City of Bangor FD is the best!
A great bunch of guys-n-gals who protect and serve their community 24/7.
Congrats to Mr Cheverie and his colleagues for a job well done in helping this guy and saving his life. Thanks to Bangor FD for your service.
From a UK friend and supporter of Bangor FD.
Maybe Obama should channel some of his energy towards this problem in America. But he is more interested in himself than anyone else. So he can continue to send money to countries that don’t like or want us around but he can’t take care of his own. Nobama in 2012
It seems to me that it is Republicans who are working hard to slash social services that could help people like this man. Their preference is 1) give tax breaks to millionaires; 2) convince voters that if anyone who is unemployed, homeless, ill, elderly, or disabled it’s their own fault and they deserve no assistance; and 3) hope nobody figures out that horrible things can happen to anyone.
Same old tired B as in B, S as in S entitlement crap. Even the kids working at wal-mart see it, millions and millions of dollars wasted.
Funny with all the budget cuts at Bangor schools the super got raises. Yes some abuse they system in all walk of life. It dose not mean they all do ,and do not deserve help. If we can spend 9million on college sports at Orono. Please someone tell me why that is needed. I would bet the majority of hockey players did not come from poor families. I could be wrong . As a society we somehow think that is important and those same people think helping people who need help just to survive is not.
Nothing horrible could ever befall you? Congratulations.