Va. Man Hurt Carrying Burning Box Spring From Blaze

PETERSBURG, Va. -- A man suffered second- and third-degree burns while trying to save his apartment from a blaze around 5 p.m. Thursday.

While it isn't immediately clear how it happened, somehow a candle came into contact with a box spring of the bed in the apartment, said Petersburg Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Battalion Chief Tommy Barrett.

"He grabbed the box spring and carried it outside the building," Barrett said. "Apparently he didn't want to damage his new apartment."

Barrett said anytime there is a candle burning, caution should be used -- especially near open windows, with pets or children in the home.

The man suffered second- and third-degree burns to his hands. Barrett said that the third-degree burns were fairly small. The man was taken by ambulance to Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg for treatment.

Barrett said that what the man did is not recommended.

He said small fire extinguishers are relatively inexpensive and would have been a better alternative.

"The problem with a mattress or a box spring is that when you're carrying it and you get a good breeze on it, it can flare up," Barrett said.

Additionally, the man had to maneuver the box spring through at least two doorways -- the door to his apartment and the door to the building -- and a hallway to get the box spring outside, the entire time putting himself and others at risk, Barrett said.

The apartment building where the incident occurred is in the 200 block of North Sycamore Street.

Barrett said that the building does have a sprinkler system, but that the fire was not large enough to activate the sprinkler system.

Copyright 2012 - The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service