Man burned while trying to clean lit fireplace with aerosol

Aerosol cleaners and fireplaces can make for a dangerous combination. A man was hospitalized on Thursday evening when flames shot out of his fireplace while he was trying to clean it.

The man, whose name was not released, was taken to Penrose St. Francis Health Center with second degree burns to his face after the incident, which happened at about 6:15 p.m. Colorado Springs fire Lt. Tom Ruane said the man was cleaning the still-lit natural gas fireplace with an aerosol cleaner when “a big fireball” shot out of the fireplace.

Three other people were inside the house on the 3500 block of Cowhand Drive, though no one else was hurt, he said. The fireball also did not cause any damage to the house. Ruane said fireplace accidents are not uncommon. “Some people would rather do the work themselves than have a cleaning technician do it,” said Lt. Tom Ruane.

Ruane, however, asked residents to be safe when taking on the tall task of cleaning a fireplace. He said residents should make sure the fireplace is off and feels cool to the touch. He added that it is better to wipe down a fireplace than use such chemicals.