Local News in Brief : Fire Prompts Warning on Mislabeled Gasoline

An Acton man was burned when he poured white gasoline that had been mislabeled as kerosene into his portable heater and it exploded, authorities said Thursday.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said they were trying to find other customers who bought the mislabeled product at a feed store.

“We’re worried that other people who bought it may be using what they think is kerosene,” said Deputy Roger Hom.

Between 55 and 200 gallons of the mislabeled white gasoline have been sold since Monday, Hom said.

Hom said Clifford Barker, 54, was “lucky to be alive this Christmas.” Barker suffered minor burns on his arm after a portable kerosene heater he was using to heat his house exploded Thursday afternoon, Hom said.

Barker bought one gallon of what he thought was kerosene at the Pioneer Feed Store, 3811 W. Sierra Highway, Hom said. The fuel had been stored in a vat.

When he poured the fuel into the heater and lighted it, the heater exploded, burning his arms and causing about $15,000 in fire damage to his home, Hom said.

Anyone who has purchased the fuel this week was asked to call the feed store at 805-269-1896 or the sheriff’s Antelope Valley station at 805-948-8466, Hom said.