Decorative table-top burner explodes in man's face
An Adelaide man is in hospital with critical facial burns after a decorative table-top burner exploded as he refilled it with methylated spirits.
The man, aged 50, suffered burns to his face and his wife received burns to her hands when the burner blew up at their West Beach home.
The Metropolitan Fire Service attended the scene and later issued a general warning that people should not expose methylated spirits to an open flame.
People were urged to always read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure a burner or lamp was cool before adding fuel.
Fire investigator Marty Miller said it was also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher close at hand.
"These sorts of fires generally are quite a rapid fire, it's a very volatile liquid that's used when they're filling," he said.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a warning last year on safe use of ethanol burners after accidents in New South Wales and Queensland.
