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By CLYNTON NAMUO
Union Leader Correspondent
5 hours, 46 minutes ago
NEWMARKET – A 66-year-old woman was severely burned Thursday night after her clothes caught fire as she tried to light a pellet stove, fire Chief Rick Malasky said.
"She had 25 to 30 percent second- and third-degree burns to her upper and lower extremities," Malasky said, adding, "She was conscious on our arrival, but I would say she has pretty serious burns and we consider them life threatening."
The woman, whose name Malasky did not know, was taken from her home at 32 Briallia Circle to Exeter Hospital and immediately transferred via helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Property records show the homeowners there are Charles and Susan Heckscher.
A woman who answered the phone at the Heckscher's home Friday morning confirmed that Susan was burned, but declined to comment further. Susan Heckscher was listed in critical condition at Brigham and Women's.
Firefighters responded to the Heckscher's home around 10 p.m. Thursday and doused what remained of the fire.
Malasky said the woman was using a flammable gel to light her pellet stove when her clothes caught fire. It's possible the gel got on her and exacerbated the burns, Malasky said.
The woman's husband used a pot of water to douse the flames on her. The fire also spread to a sofa and carpet and he doused most of that as well, Malasky said.
Malasky said the husband and wife were home with a couple of friends when the fire broke out.
He said fire marshal's office is investigating, but so far it appears to be a "freak accident."
"It was definitely just an accident," Malasky said. "By no means did she intentionally set herself on fire."
He also praised those there for acting quickly.
"Thank god her husband was home and there were other people in the residence," Malasky said.