A Gorham man was hospitalized Jan. 22 after trying to rescue cats in a blaze that extensively damaged his home in the Little Falls area.

Gorham rescue transported Rick Hardman, 42 Sydneys Way, with third-degree burns, smoke inhalation and cuts, according to reports at the scene. Hardman, who was wrapped in a thin blanket in the bitter cold, talked with rescue workers before getting into a rescue. He had streaks of blood on his head and blood splattered on his pants. One of his hands was wrapped in a bandage.

Firefighters fought the fire in frigid 20-degree weather, pumping water from a nearby pond. Gorham Fire Chief Bob Lefebvre said it was a two-alarm fire.

A neighbor, John Weld, who lives across the street, was alerted to the fire by neighborhood dogs that were “going crazy.”

“The whole front of the building was engulfed,” Weld said. “Very scary.”

Lt. Chris Sanborn of the Gorham police said Hardman was home when the fire broke out and stayed in the blaze to look for cats. Sanborn, one of the first at the scene, yelled for Hardman to get out. “When he came out, his hand was cut,” Sanborn said.

“He was cut,” said Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard, who added that Hardman was bandaged at the scene by Gorham paramedics.

A woman, who declined comment, was also home but appeared to have escaped unscathed.

Cutline (GOR fire 5) Cutline (GOR fire 1) Gorham Police Chief Ron Shepard speaks to firefighters at the scene of a fire that extensively damaged a home on Sydneys Way Jan. 22.A firefighter reunited Sue Hutchins with her cat, Fancy, after a fire heavily damaged their home at 51 Sydney Way in Gorham Monday afternoon.Firerfighters examine the damage to a home on Sydneys Way in Gorham Monday afternoon. One person was injured in the blaze.