The Dresden Fire Department reported that one of its own, firefighter Nicole Freese, was hurt in an auto accident Saturday. The accident, in which Freese and another occupant escaped a burning vehicle, happened the morning of June 25 in Augusta, according to an Augusta police sergeant and a Dresden Fire Department Facebook message that sent out thoughts and prayers to Freese.

Freese, 18, was a passenger in a 1998 Chevy pickup truck that Cade Ayotte, 21, of South China was driving westbound on South Belfast Avenue at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Police Sgt. Danny Bovin said Sunday. The truck left the road, struck a tree and caught fire, Bovin said.

When emergency crews arrived, both Freese and Ayotte were already outside the truck and were both conscious, Bovin said. Ayotte has been summonsed for operating under the influence in connection with the crash, which remained under investigation, Bovin said.

He said Ayotte and Freese were transported to Maine General Medical Center in Augusta. Freese was listed in fair condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland Sunday, a nursing supervisor there said. According to Maine General staff, Ayotte was discharged from that hospital on Saturday.

The truck was totaled, Bovin said.

“Thoughts and prayers are going out to our fellow firefighter Nicole Freese ... We are all thinking of you Nicole and hoping for a successful and speedy recovery. We ask everyone to keep her in your thoughts and prayers,” the Dresden Fire Department’s Facebook message, posted Saturday afternoon, states.

Freese has been on the department about two years, first as a junior firefighter, and a regular member since she turned 18, Fire Chief Steve Lilly said Sunday night.

“We’ve sent her a card and flowers, and she knows if there’s anything she needs, we’ll do whatever we can,” Lilly said.