Rumford firefighter survives roof collapse

LEWISTON – A 49-year-old Rumford firefighter had a close call over the weekend after a roof collapsed on him while he was battling a fire at an apartment building in the neighboring town of Mexico.

Bill Johnston was trapped by debris early Saturday morning on the third floor of the burning building on Holman Avenue. When fellow firefighters were able to locate Johnston and drag him to safety, they found that he wasn’t breathing and had no pulse.

Emergency medical personnel managed to revive Johnston while taking him to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Johnston was released from the hospital Saturday night, having suffered only minor injuries and bruises.

Dozens of firefighters from eight departments went to the fire, which gutted the building and left six people homeless. The cause of the fire was believed to be electrical.