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NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE (5/12/2015) A 71-year-old man was in critical condition after being burned when fire swept through two homes near New Castle this morning, authorities said.
The fire happened about 7:30 a.m. at 38 Dallas Road in the Simonds Gardens community.
The victim was reported pulled from the home, said Cpl. Abigail Haas of New Castle County paramedics, and suffered burns to his face, neck and arms. He was treated on the scene by paramedics and taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital.
Robert Fox, chief deputy state fire marshal, said the man was treated at Christiana for burns to his body and airway and then transferred to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore.
Fox said there were no other injuries.
Damage was estimated at $50,000.
Investigators are still trying to determine how the fire started, Fox said.
The two connected houses were fully involved when Holloway Terrace firefighters arrived, according to reports from the scene.
Other fire companies responding included Minquadale, Wilmington, Good Will, Minquas, Port Penn, Brandywine Hundred, Claymont, Cranston Heights and Deepwater.
The single-story homes were built in 1950, according to New Castle County records.
90-year-old home burns in Christiana