Two people were transported to the hospital July 13 as a result of a fire inside a crafts building at Upland Hills Farm on Lake George Road in Addison Township.
A male patient was taken to the burn center at Detroit Receiving Hospital with second and third-degree burns on an estimated 20 percent of his body, according to Addison Fire Chief George Spencer.
The other patient, a female, suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to Crittenton Hospital in Rochester.
Spencer said the cause of the fire was accidental.
‘It was caused by some camp counselors heating up wax inside the building on a stove and the wax caught on fire,? the chief said.
Upland Hills Farm runs a summer day camp from June through August.
‘Believe it or not, (there was) no damage to the building whatsoever,? Spencer said. ‘The wax caught on fire. It spilled all over the kitchen. The wax itself was burning. They put it out with a fire extinguisher and there’s not even smoke damage or singeing on any of the building.?
It appears the burn victim sustained his injuries while trying to remove the burning wax from the building.
‘It flared up and burned him is what it sounds like,? Spencer said.
The chief described the whole incident as ‘definitely seconds from disaster.?
‘If they hadn’t put that building out with a fire extinguisher, there would have been significant fire conditions when we arrived,? Spencer explained.
The chief wished to use this fire as an opportunity to pass along some safety tips to the public.
‘Wax is a combustible liquid,? Spencer said. ‘Never, ever, ever, heat it up in your house or on a heating element that may, if it’s exposed to the wax, ignite it. And definitely never on an open flame.?
‘If you ever have a liquid that catches on fire on your stove whether it’s wax, as in this case, or whether it’s a grease fire, remember never throw water on it, just cover the pot or cover the pan to put it out,? he said. ‘Usually, when you cover it, it goes out.?
‘Make sure before you ever heat anything up that you have a lid sitting right next to it that will fit on it,? Spencer said. ‘If you can put a lid on it, you’re good and you don’t have to call us to help put your house out.?
And finally, don’t try to handle or move a burning object.
‘If you ever have a burning pot or pan or something, never, ever, try to take it outside because that’s a very common cause of pretty severe burns,? Spencer said.