Calif. Woman Lights Cigarette While Filling Gas Can, Burned

ANTIOCH -- A woman suffered serious burns and was airlifted to a burn unit when she lit a cigarette after filling a gasoline can, police said Wednesday.

The mishap on Monday also hospitalized the woman's friend with less severe burns.

According to police, the women were in a car in the area of O Street when it ran out of gas around 5:15 p.m. The driver, a woman in her 40s, took a gas can with her and walked to a nearby service station and filled it. She then walked back to the car.

"As she filled the gas can and walked back, some of the gas ended up on her," Antioch police Act. Lt. Tarra Nissen said.

At some point, Nissen said, the woman lit a cigarette, and the flammable fuel that had spilled on her clothing ignited. She suffered serious burns to her hands, chest and face, Nissen said. Police did not say to what hospital burn unit was treating her.

"Her burns were significant," Nissen said.

The woman's friend tried to extinguish the flames and wound up with burns, as well, Nissen said. That woman's injuries were not available immediately, but Nissen said her burns were not as severe. An ambulance took her to a hospital, Nissen said.

Contra Costa County Fire Marshal Robert Marshall advised people to stay safe from accidental burns by staying focused.

"It's important to stay focused on the task at hand and to not be distracted by all of the things that distract us nowadays," Marshall said. "It really could happen to anybody."

He said people are supposed to stop, drop and roll if they do accidentally set themselves on fire.

An update on the woman's condition was not available immediately.

Check back for updates.

Staff writer Katrina Cameron contributed to this report. Contact Rick Hurd at 925-945-4789 and follow him at Twitter.com/3rderh

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