Man Badly Burned as Propane Ignites
A Garden Grove man suffered second- and third-degree burns over much of his body Saturday after fumes from a propane tank ignited on his apartment balcony.
Samuel Blais, 37, was taken to UCI Medical Center in serious condition after the 12:45 p.m. blaze at the Daisy condominium complex in the 1200 block of Main Street.
The fire caused about $80,000 in damage to Blais’ second-story unit.
The fire began spreading to the top floor of the three-story complex, but quick action by firefighters contained damage to Blais’ second-floor home. A woman and two children inside were unhurt, said Battalion Chief Nick Booker of the Garden Grove Fire Department.
“It’s tough. It’s Christmas time,” he said. “You see a burned-up Christmas tree coming out, and you know everything else is burned up too. I guess their Christmas present is that everybody 1/8got out alive 3/8.”
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