UPDATE - 7/22/2025:
The Bellefontaine Fire Department confirmed that 77-year-old Richard Banks passed away on Sunday from the injuries sustained from the July 16th fire.
This comes after the unresponsive Banks was flown out to a Columbus hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
The nature of the fire still remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Original story - 7/17/2025:
BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio - A Logan County man is hospitalized after being rescued from his burning mobile home late Wednesday night. The blaze broke out just after 11:30 at the Wayside Mobile Home Park in Bellefontaine, located at 1000 Garfield Avenue.
When Bellefontaine Fire and EMS crews arrived on the scene, they discovered a fire in the kitchen near the stove, and found the victim, 77-year-old Richard Banks, unresponsive in the living room. Firefighters pulled him out, and medics transported the man to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine, where, according to Bellefontaine Fire Chief Brian Wilson, they "were able to get some vitals back on him."
Banks suffered from second-degree burns and is currently in critical condition.
The blaze broke out just after 11:30 at the Wayside Mobile Home Park in Bellefontaine, located at 1000 Garfield Avenue.
According to Chief Wilson, the victim was the only person home at the time. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the flames, with fire damage being mostly contained to the kitchen area, with smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. Wilson added that crews had to deal with some clutter inside the residence during their initial search and knock down of the fire, but said, "That isn't uncommon and they are used to it."
Chief Wilson said that the residence has smoke detectors, but they were not sounding when crews made entry, and it was unclear if they were functioning before they arrived. Wilson said the State Fire Marshal's office will be assisting them with the investigation due to the possibility of the victim succumbing to his injuries; however, there's no indication the fire is suspicious. Officials were on the scene for over two hours, and no firefighters were injured.
Bellefontaine crews were assisted by firefighters from the Huntsville and Richland Township Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as the Bellefontaine Police Department.
