2 Men Badly Burned When Acetone Ignites

Two men suffered third-degree burns and a third man was injured less severely in a flash fire at a Chatsworth electronics company, officials said Tuesday.

The fire broke out at JMR Electronics Inc., at 20400 Plummer St., about 9:20 p.m. Monday, according to Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Two men, one 25, the other 32, were rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center after sustaining third-degree burns to their hands and forearms, said Laurie Lundberg, spokeswoman for the Torrance Memorial Medical Center, to which they were later transferred. In addition, both sustained second-degree facial burns, with the 25-year-old also suffering second-degree burns on his knee, Lundberg said.

The third man was taken to West Hills Hospital and Medical Center and released late Monday after being treated for first- and second-degree burns on his left hand, said Kari Jo Bloomer, a hospital spokeswoman.

The three men sparked the fire when they started to apply some acetone, an industrial solvent, while cleaning the floor of the office building using an electric floor polisher, said Humphrey. The combination of acetone, a volatile substance, and the electric device caused the fire, which enveloped the three men, Humphrey said.

Fire investigators ruled the incident an accident caused by the improper use of acetone, he said. Cal/OSHA is to conduct an investigation because the incident occurred in the workplace, Humphrey said.