Cypress : Man Saves Toddler, 2, From Gasoline Fire

Surrounded by fire, a Cypress man whisked a toddler to safety Friday morning and then helped put out the flames that had engulfed the child’s father.

The flash ignition occurred when fumes from spilled gasoline met the pilot light of an old water heater at a home on the 4900 block of Myra Avenue. The gasoline came from a truck two men were repairing, firefighters said. Darrell Kolstad, 30, engulfed by flames, suffered first- and second-degree burns over 25% of his body. He was in stable condition at the UCI Medical Center Friday night, a hospital spokesman said.

Kolstad’s son, Dean, 2, suffered minor first-degree burns on his face. He was treated and released.

Carl Sparks, 53, who took the young boy to safety and then helped Kolstad, was treated and released with first-degree burns on his face, head and arms.

Fire Department officials gave this account:

Kolstad was helping Sparks remove fuel tanks from a truck when some of the remaining fuel began pouring out, Fire Department spokeswoman Patti Range said. Kolstad, who was under the truck, put his hand--covered by a rag--up to the tank to keep it from leaking out. Meanwhile, Sparks went to get a bucket to catch the gas, but fumes from the gasoline traveled across Sparks’ garage and were ignited by the water heater.

“Sparks grabbed the little one, who was standing outside the garage, and ran with him,” Range said.

Kolstad’s clothing caught fire so he dropped to the ground and rolled. Sparks tore off his friend’s clothes and helped him until paramedics arrived. Fire officials estimate the damage to the home at $25,000 and the damage to its contents at another $25,000.