East Palo Alto man burned in suspicious blaze
Police say possible drug lab may have started fire

Mercury News Staff Report

An East Palo Alto man was severely burned Thursday when chemical fumes
from a suspected home drug lab ignited, causing a small flash fire,
Menlo Park Fire Protection District officials said.

The unidentified man, who officials said was about 30 years old, was
treated at Stanford University Hospital, then transferred to Valley Medical
Center's burn unit. He was in serious condition Thursday evening with
second and thirddegree burns covering 50 to 70 percent of his body.

Firefighter Bill McFarland suffered minor bruises to his face and was
treated and released, officials said.

The fire, which occurred about 3:20 p.m., was caused by vapors coming into
contact with a stove burner, fire officials said. It was quickly
extinguished but caused about $5,000 damage to the home in the 1900 block
of Pulgas Avenue, mostly to the cabinets above the stove. The East Palo
Alto Police Department is investigating, said detective Sgt. Warren
Vandersyde.

Published Friday, September 12, 1997, in the San Jose Mercury News