NORTH ANDOVER — A barrel exploded, hurling a public works employee 20 feet and into a garage door at the DPW yard yesterday morning, said police Lt. John Carney.
Kenneth Wedge, 59, was using an acetylene torch to cut off the top of an empty barrel when it blew up outside the Department of Public Works at 384 Osgood St., about 7:53 a.m., he said.
The barrel had once contained methanol, and Carney said it appeared that the fumes trapped inside were ignited by the flame.
"His pants were on fire and there were residual flames on the ground. He was alert enough to drop and roll to douse the flames," Carney said.
Other DPW workers quickly went to Wedge's aid, he said.
Wedge suffered burns to his legs, a laceration to his right hand and a possible injury to his left arm, Carney said.
He was taken to Lawrence General Hospital in the Fire Department's ambulance.
Wedge's son Jason, a reserve police officer, was on duty at the time and responded to the accident. He rode to the hospital in the ambulance with his father, Carney said.
Carney said the DPW gets the empty barrels and cuts the tops off to use them as storage for sand. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a volatile, colorless, flammable liquid used as an antifreeze, solvent or fuel.
Officer Daniel Quinlan is investigating.
