Repairman suffers minor burns but prevents house fire after welding torch explodes in Oak Bay

A man suffered minor burns when a welding torch exploded in his face as he repaired a refrigerator at an Oak Bay home on Thursday.

The man was working at a home in the 2700-block of Topp Avenue when it happened at around 3 p.m.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the man outside the home with minor burns to his face, who explained that he was doing warranty service repair with an oxy-acetylene torch when the tank caught fire and exploded.

Firefighters stabilized the scene and treated the man until paramedics transported him to hospital out of precaution.

The building only sustained minor damage due to the man throwing the burning tank outside, said Acting Oak Bay Fire Chief Jason Joynson.

“It did cause him some personal injuries but he did save the residents from that,” he said.

Residents were expected to be let back in the home later Thursday night.

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