Man Severely Burned During Vehicle Maintenance In Camden County

MAGNOLIA, NJ — A flash fire severely burned a man as he performed vehicle maintenance Tuesday night in Magnolia, authorities said.

The fire occurred as the victim did roadside maintenance with flammable chemicals just before 9 p.m. on the 700 block of the White Horse Pike, officials said. Firefighters brought him to safety and extinguished the vehicle fire, according to Magnolia Fire Company 29.

The man suffered "significant burns," the fire company said. Emergency personnel treated him at the scene and decided the victim needed to be flown to a specialized burn center.

Officials established an emergency helicopter-landing zone at the Donald E. Wilson Community Center on Brooke Avenue — a regional site designated for airlifting medical patients. EMS personnel transferred the victim to the medical helicopter at the site.

Authorities haven't disclosed the victim's identity.

Police informed residents about the helicopter landing at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

"Some of you will be seeing a helicopter land at the Donald Wilson Community Center," police said. "There is nothing to be alarmed about, it is for a medical emergency."

It wasn't immediately clear whether the injuries were life-threatening. Magnolia police don't have information on the victim's condition, Chief John Huston told Patch at about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

"Once he is being treated by professionals, we are no longer kept in the loop on his condition due to this incident not having a criminal element," Huston said. "The medical professionals on the scene determined that the best course of action was to fly him via helicopter to a hospital."

Patch contacted the Magnolia Fire Company and will update with any response.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.