Child injured in Middletown fire

A 6-year-old boy was critically injured in a Middletown fire Wednesday. Middletown police officers first noticed the fire at 212 East Main St. while on a routine patrol. The officers responded to the

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2009, 2:09 AM

Updated 5,700 days ago

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A 6-year-old boy was critically injured in a Middletown fire Wednesday.
Middletown police officers first noticed the fire at 212 East Main St. while on a routine patrol. The officers responded to the blaze and were told 6-year-old Wilmer Diaz was stuck on the home's second floor.
Andrea Robinson, a tenant in the home, says she was able to escape the fire with her daughter, but saw Wilmer by the kitchen window stuck inside. Robinson says she yelled to him to jump from the window, but he couldn?t get it open.
Middletown Police Officer Vincent Andre used a ladder he found in the yard to break open the second-story window, but was overcome by smoke before he was able to get Wilmer out. Middletown Fire Inspector Tim Welch was finally able to grab Wilmer and pull him to safety.
Authorities say Wilmer was taken to the Westchester Medical Center burn unit. He suffered smoke inhalation and second- and third-degree burns and is in critical, but stable condition.
According to neighbors, Wilmer was home sick from school. Unconfirmed reports say his parents may have left him home alone at the time of the fire.