The explosion occurred in the city's Liberty Heights neighborhood.
Firefighters and emergency medical personnel attend to a man who lives at 40 Thornton St. Friday afternoon following an accident in which he tried to use a utility vacuum to siphon gasoline out of a snow blower. He received burns and smoke inhalation from the resulting fire and was taken to Baystate Medical Center.SPRINGFIELD – A 65-year-old Liberty Heights man suffered third-degree burns to his legs early Friday afternoon when he attempted to use an electric shop vacuum to siphon gasoline out of a snowblower.
The incident was reported about 1:25 p.m. at 40 Thornton St., Fire Capt. Michael R. Richard said.
The homeowner’s girlfriend of 30 years put out the flames with a garden hose before firefighters arrived. Richard said the woman reported that “the fire was huge” and that she couldn’t believe that house and garage had not caught on fire.
The victim, whom Richard declined to identity, was taken to Baystate Medical Center.
A 65-year-old man who lives at 40 Thornton St. in the Liberty Heights neighborhood of Springfield suffered 3rd degree burns to his legs early Friday afternoon when he attempted to siphon gasoline out of a snowblower with a shop vac.Richard said he may be transferred to Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut.
The explosion occurred in the driveway in front of the garage and that the victim walked to the front of the house to meet responding firefighters.
Richard said that one should never use an electrical device around gasoline for any reason.
“Obviously the motor ignited the gasoline vapors which led to the explosion,” he said.