Man burned while cleaning out paint sprayer on the job in St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A St. Augustine man is recovering after he caught fire while on the job.

Police say the fire happened while workers were trying to clean a paint-spraying machine.

“On fire” and “rolling on the ground” is how the police report describes the scene Friday in front of Manning Building Supply.

“Some man came out of the corner of Manning’s building, he was on fire, he was burning,” said witness Jo-Ann Whitesell.

Whitesell said she was driving by when she stopped and then called 911.

“He came running out between the shrubs there. He was actually taking his hat off and his shirt off and patting his legs cause he was one fire. ... He was literally burning,” said Whitesell.

According to the police report, the victim and another worker are employed by A-Z Painting and were doing a job at Manning Building Supply. They were cleaning out a paint-spraying machine when there was a clog and then a flash fire happened. The second worker turned off the machine and ran to grab a fire extinguisher.

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“He had dropped and rolled and he already had himself out … but at least 50 percent of his body was already burned. Severely burned on his arms and chest and thighs,” Whitesell said.

The victim was flown to the UF Health burn unit in Gainesville. Whitesell said she’s heard he’s now doing better and she’s hoping for the best for both workers.

“He needs some prayers and comforting too … he’s a little shook up because this could have been himself, could have been him. He was right behind him. Could have been him too,” Whitesell said.

Cox Media Group