Pubdate: Sat, 02 Sep 2006
Source: Morning Call (Allentown, PA)
Copyright: 2006 The Morning Call Inc.
Contact:  http://www.mcall.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/275
Author: Joe McDonald
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EASTON FIREFIGHTER BURNED TRYING TO IGNITE CONTRABAND

Acting captain says he 'got too close with the flare;' injuries are minor.

An Easton firefighter was burned on his face and hands while trying 
to ignite a pile of drugs and contraband police wanted destroyed that 
had been doused with gasoline, officials said Friday.

The decision to use gasoline was criticized by the top fire official 
in Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Valley Local Links        Mobile News | Subscribe Online | 
Order Reprints       The injured firefighter, Acting Captain Robert 
Dantinne, said his injuries are minor, though he did go to the burn 
center at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, he said, "to be careful."

"Everything is fine," Dantinne said. He blamed himself for what happened.

"I just made a stupid mistake," he said. "It was an accident. I got 
too close with the flare."

Early Thursday afternoon, Dantinne, Chief John Bast and another 
firefighter went to Hackett Park, where they met city police, who 
wanted evidence from old cases destroyed because it was no longer needed.

Drugs, old uniforms and assorted contraband accumulated over the 
years were brought to the park to be burned, said Easton Police Capt. 
Michael Vangello.

The contraband was piled about two feet high, said Bast, the city's 
new fire chief.

"We used a flare," Bast said. "A little bit of gasoline was used."

Bast said the fire did not flare "while we were pouring gasoline on."

One expert said Friday gasoline should never be used to start a fire.

"Gasoline is a flammable liquid and you should never use a flammable 
liquid as an accelerant to start a fire," said Edward A. Mann, the 
Pennsylvania state fire commissioner. Using a flammable liquid, he 
said, is something that should only be "used as a last resort." He 
said using a flare or balled-up paper would be preferable.

Dantinne said the pile was not on fire when he approached with a flare.

"It was not burning at the time," he said. "I was lighting it to burn 
[the pile] and it just flared up.

"It went up instantaneously," he said. "I know better. I was off-guard."

Bast said Dantinne was taken to Easton Hospital and as a precaution 
went to see a burn specialist at LVH.

"He's fine," Bast said. "He was released."

Vangello said the contraband police wanted destroyed consisted of 
everything from marijuana to heroin and cocaine, as well as papers 
and old uniforms. He said old uniforms were burned to eliminate the 
possibility of someone impersonating a police officer.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman