A man suffered burns on 30 percent of his body Tuesday after a fire at a metal shop in Simi Valley, officials said.
The blaze was reported about 10:35 a.m. in the 4600 block of Industrial Street and was put out by employees before firefighters arrived, said Steve Swindle, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department.
The man was operating a metal machine that overheated and sparked, causing dust and cardboard to catch fire, Swindle said.
"Metal dust and shavings are pretty volatile, given the right conditions," Swindle said.
Two people were originally reported injured, but only one was taken to a hospital, Swindle said.
Heavy smoke was seen throughout the building, Swindle said. The building was evacuated because of the smoke, and fire personnel ventilated the industrial structure with a fan.
A fire investigator was on scene, and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health was notified, Swindle said.
Copyright 2012 - Ventura County Star, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
