Gas Tank Explosion Severely Burns 2 Men

Two men were severely burned Wednesday in Santa Ana when vapors from the gas tank they were working on exploded into a fireball, fire officials said.

Both men, ages 45 and 36, were reported in critical condition at UCI Burn Center where they were being treated for second- and third-degree burns, hospital spokeswoman Kim Pine said. The older man was burned over 75% of his body. The other man had injuries over 10% to 15% of his body with burns to the face, arms and right leg, Pine said.

The accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. in the driveway of a home on the 2800 block of West Mark Street, Santa Ana Fire Department Capt. Randy Black said.

The 43-year-old man apparently was trying to cut the gas tank from a flatbed truck with a power tool called a reciprocating saw, Black said.

The other man, who had come to visit with his family on their way to a trip, was recruited to help, Black said.

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“They had emptied the tank out and let it dry out for a few days,” Black said. “They had started cutting into the tank when it exploded in fire on them. It put out a great amount of heat and caused a significant amount of injury.”

The truck had minimal damage and no one else was hurt.

Black said such gasoline tank work should be done only by a professional and only in a proper facility.

“This is not for the backyard mechanic,” he said.