PHOENIX — A man was critically injured and hospitalized after an attic fire broke out in a Surprise home, officials said Saturday.
According to the Surprise Fire and Medical Department, the man sustained burns to his face and airway while welding with an acetylene torch. The torch reportedly flashed, igniting nearby materials and triggering the fire.
A coworker who was also in the attic at the time helped the injured man escape and used a fire extinguisher to suppress the flames before emergency crews arrived.
Firefighters transported the victim to a local burn center in critical condition. Due to swelling in his trachea, paramedics had to perform an advanced airway procedure to help him breathe and deliver oxygen.
The house sustained smoke damage and minor fire damage in the attic, officials said.
Authorities have not released additional details about the exact time or location of the incident.
