ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --
An Englewood man was hospitalized after the tank he was welding exploded. One witness said the explosion "rocked the whole block."
His friend, Dan Goddard, said the tank had oil residue in it and the man was sealing it before setting it outside of the shop. When Goddard pulled up to his business, located next door, he said he spotted his friend aimlessly walking down the sidewalk.
"He had melted plastic on his shirt and back and he looked kind of crazy. He didn't pay attention to anybody. He was just sort of in his own world," said Goddard.
The work was being done at Colorado Transmission, located at 3935 S. Lipan. The man is a transmission specialist who had reportedly been an employee there for about a year.
Seven departments and about 30 firefighters responded to the fire. It took them about 30 minutes to extinguish the flames.
A man who knows the victim said he has a large family in the Denver area. A brother of the victim identifies the man as Charles Mestas. His brother was at the scene and said the family is gathering at the hospital, but he refused a request for an interview. Officials have not released the name of the victim.
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