Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013 | 10 p.m.
Fire
A worker was seriously burned this morning while spray painting the clubhouse of a homeowner’s association in the western Las Vegas Valley.
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said the fire erupted at 10:17 a.m. at the Queensridge Homeowners Association building in the 800 block of Palace Court.
A group of workers were painting the inside of the building with a commercial paint sprayer and had placed thin plastic sheets around the area to prevent overspray. The accumulated paint fumes were apparently ignited by the pilot light inside a natural gas fireplace in the building.
A fire sprinkler doused the flames before firefighters arrived.
The worker suffered first- and second-degree burns on the arms and hands. His injuries were not life threatening, and the fire was ruled accidental.
Damage to the building was estimated at $5,000.
Szymanski said a similar fire occurred on Sept. 10, 2011, at the Casa del Sol apartments in the 5100 block of O’Bannon Drive.
A woman was spray painting on the patio of her apartment using spray paint cans, and the fumes apparently entered a nearby water heater closet and ignited.
The woman was taken to the hospital with minor burns to her legs. Damage at that incident was also estimated at $5,000.
Szymanski urged caution when using spray paint, which is highly flammable.
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