MAN STABLE AFTER CHEMICAL-FIRE BURN

SCOTT CITY -- An employee of Environmental Services of America, Inc., 3100 Industrial Fuel Drive, suffered from third-degree burns Wednesday after a spark ignited paint by-products.

The man's name was not released by hospital officials or management of the chemical processing company Wednesday.

Authorities at the scene said the man was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital to be treated for burns affecting 20-25 percent of his body. A quarter of those burns were third-degree burns and the rest were second-degree burns, officials said.

Jerry Washo, the manager of Environmental Services, said Wednesday night that the man was in stable condition.

The man was in the process of taking material, mostly rags, that had been contaminated with highly flammable paint by-products to a shredder so that they could be processed for beneficial reuse, Washo said.

A spark of unknown origin ignited the chemicals, Washo said, burning the material.

"Something sparked and caused a fire," Washo said. "It's very unfortunate that it had to happen."

Scott City firefighters responded at 12:23 p.m. The damage to the inside of the building was relatively minor said Deputy Chief Jay Cassout.

He said two machines inside the building were slightly scorched, but he was not sure of the extent of the damage to the machines.

Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Daniel White was on the scene for mutual aid and was appointed the public information officer.

White said that the sprinkler system had kicked on, and employees utilized a dry chemical extinguisher to help battle the blaze.

The Department of Natural Resources was notified, but White said the health hazard was low.

Firefighters going inside the building were decontaminated when they came out by getting hosed off with soap and water, White said.