Petrol burnoff ends in tragedy

Dion Teasdale
A WOMAN is lucky to be alive after her face, neck and arms were severely burned by a fuel fire in Healesville last week.
The woman was helping to clean up a block of land on Silverleaf Place, Healesville, when the incident happened shortly after noon on Saturday, 27 August.
Healesville CFA captain Graeme Bates, who attended the fire with six firefighters and two fire trucks, said the woman was burned after exposure to a fuel fire.
“Petrol was poured onto a pile of tree stumps and rubbish and when the fire was lit the woman was exposed to a flash of flames and heat,” Mr Bates said.
“The woman received first degree burns to her face, arms and neck and was airlifted to The Alfred hospital. She was lucky to have avoided more serious burns.”
A spokesman from the Metropolitan Ambulance Service said the woman, from East Doncaster and in her mid50s, sustained burns to almost 20 per cent of her body. Mr Bates said the incident served as a reminder for people to be careful when burning off waste and using fire accelerants.
“Petrol and matches don’t mix well, or rather they mix too well and as a result they are a dangerous combination, “ he said.
“A lot of people are burning off in preparation for summer and this unfortunate incident serves as a reminder to be very careful.”