Police: Man badly burned in house fire may have been huffing gas

Middletown police say a man was severely burned before officers rescued him from a house fire, and they believe he was huffing gasoline before the fire started.

Investigators said they believe Broden Hicks, 20, may have been using drugs when something caught fire inside the home. Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham said police are investigating criminal charges because there was “reason to believe there was illegal drug activities going on in the house” in the 1800 block of Henry Avenue.

“We have reason to believe he was huffing gas inside the residence,” Cunningham said of Hicks. According to police, Hicks has been arrested previously for intoxication, a bench warrant for unpaid fines and corruption of another person.

Huffing gas to get a high is rare in Middletown, Cunningham said.

Hicks was flown by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton and is listed in critical condition after suffering burns on 65 percent of his body. Police and fire units were dispatched around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to Henry Avenue on a reported house fire, possibly with subjects still inside the house.

Officers reported seeing smoke emanating from the front door of the house and a man, later identified as Hicks, standing naked in the living room. They attempted to direct him out of the house, but officers Ryan Morgan and Malcom Tipton had to enter the house to pull Hicks out.

“He refused to walk towards the door he actually walked backwards so the officers went inside and escorted him out of the house,” Cunningham said.

He said the officers didn’t have any protective equipment when they entered the house, but fearing for his life, they “rushed in and brought him out. (They) subjected themselves to great harm by going inside this fire. Middletown police are very proud of the officers conduct and saving this guy’s life.”

Cunningham said the bigger issue is that the others who lived inside the home now need to find another place to live. The Red Cross is helping.

“There were kids and other people who lived inside this house and they’re now homeless,” he said. “The electricity had to be shut off to the house because of the damage.”

Cunningham said he didn’t know exactly how many people were in the house but there were “at least two adults and several children.”

Police report Hicks suffered burns to his arms, legs, and torso. He is listed in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital.

Fire crews were aided in extinguishing the fire by a water pipe that burst inside the home.

Cunningham said the fire remains under investigation.