Three people were injured in White County as a result of someone using a flammable liquid to burn a brush pile.
The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 outside a residence at 1135 Stansel Road. When the liquid was thrown on the fire it caused an explosion.
Two men were burned in that explosion, says White County Public Safety Director David Murphy. A 19-year-old suffered second and third-degree burns. He was airlifted to the Grady Burn Center in Atlanta where, at last report, he was listed in stable condition. A 20-year-old man suffered first and second-degree burns on his lower extremities. Murphy says he refused to be transported to the hospital.
Officials are withholding their names pending notification of next of kin.
An off-duty White County patrol deputy who lives next door was burned while trying to help the injured men. He suffered first-degree burns to his hands.
White County firefighters with automatic aid from the City of Cleveland responded to the scene and extinguished the brush pile. Fire personnel remained on the scene for approximately two hours assisting with landing zones and patient care.
