Johnson County Med-Act transported two men to an area burn center after they were injured in a flash fire on Friday afternoon.
The Overland Park Fire Department says the fire at 8421 Kessler Street was reported shortly before 1 p.m. Firefighters from the Lenexa Fire Department also responded to assist.
Jason Rhodes, Media Manager of the Overland Park Fire Department, says arriving firefighters found smoke coming from the duplex two men with burn injuries in front of the building.
"Medical crews went to work on the patients, while fire crews attacked a fire in the basement on the north duplex," Rhodes said. "Both patients were quickly transported and the fire was knocked down in a matter of minutes."
Rhodes says both men were transported by ambulance to the University of Kansas Medical Center Burn Unit. One man is in critical condition, the other is in stable condition.
"Investigators believe the two were working with a paint sprayer in the basement utility area and that the fumes from the sprayer made contact with an open flame from the furnace, causing a flash fire," Rhodes said.
Fire damage was largely contained to the basement area with minor extension to the living area.
"The fire unit is uninhabitable, but residents of the south duplex unit will be able to reoccupy," Rhodes said. "An adult female and two children also reside in the damaged unit, but were not home at the time of the fire."
Firefighters want to remind everyone to keep flammable substances away from open flames, always follow precautions on product labels, and to use these products in well-ventilated areas.
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