Burn Victim to Undergo Surgery

A 27-year-old Oxnard man will undergo surgery today for burns he received when a pilot-light ignited fumes from a solvent he was using to clean a kitchen floor, authorities said.

James Foxx suffered extensive second- and third-degree burns and was in critical condition at Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, nurse Barbara Rook said.

Foxx suffered burns over 53% of his body, she said. His burns will be cleaned today and some of his skin will be grafted, Rook said.

Foxx was using lacquer thinner about 4 p.m. Thursday at a home in the 100 block of South F Street when the explosion occurred, Oxnard Fire Battalion Chief Terry McAnally said.

A water heater’s pilot light probably sparked the explosion, he said.

“He was using [the thinner] as a cleaner and that’s a real no-no,” McAnally said. “That’s like using gasoline for a cleaner. There are nonflammable cleaners out there.”

After the ignition, Foxx jumped out of a window with his clothes on fire and suffered cuts and scrapes, McAnally said. Foxx was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to the burn center, McAnally said.

It took 24 firefighters about 20 minutes to contain the blaze, McAnally said. The fire caused $50,000 damage to the structure and $10,000 to the contents, he said.

Fire officials will continue their investigation after interviewing Foxx next week, McAnally said.