3 Workmen Still Critical After High-Rise Explosion

Three workmen remained in critical condition Friday, a day after they were severely burned when their halogen lamp ignited lacquer fumes and caused an explosion on the 23rd floor of a Westwood high-rise.

The men were injured about 3:25 p.m. Thursday while working in a penthouse at the Wilshire condominium complex. They were transported to the Grossman Burn Center at the Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center, where they remained Friday.

The most severely injured was Barry Ellegaard, 36, of Laguna Niguel, who suffered mostly third-degree burns on 55% of his body, hospital spokesman Larry Weinberg said.

All three men are scheduled to undergo surgery to remove damaged skin.

Also in critical condition were Juan Jimenez, 25, of Santa Ana, who suffered burns on 49% of his body, and Armando Mesa, address unknown, who had burns on 35% of his body, according to Weinberg.

Both Jimenez and Ellegaard suffered lung damage from inhaling hot vapors when the explosion occurred, Weinberg said.

John Sarris, 60, and an interior decorator whose name was not available, had minor injuries from flying debris.

The most severely injured workers, who are employed by the Beverly Hills general contractor the JD Group, were spraying lacquer onto crown molding using a high-intensity halogen light in a closet that was covered by a sheet of plastic. A JD Group spokesman could not be reached for comment.

“Somebody opened the plastic to say something and when the air came in, the added oxygen, the hot lamp and the lacquer fumes spontaneously combusted,” building manager Al Gasper said. “It created a fireball.”

Gasper said the general contractor has worked on several condos at the complex. He called the company “professional” and “careful.”

The force of the blast shattered a window and blew open several emergency doors in a nearby corridor, Gasper said. Fire officials estimate damage at about $130,000.

Gasper said residents are “hoping and praying” that the workers survive their injuries.