Logan fire captain suffers burns

LOGAN — A firefighter suffered burns to the face while responding to a vehicle fire Sunday at a laundromat near Utah State University.

Fire crews responded to a report of a vehicle fire endangering a structure near 900 North and 500 East about 12:30 p.m., Logan City Fire Chief Mark Meaker said.

The vehicle was about 6 feet from the laundromat and the engine was fully engulfed. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire once arriving, Meaker said.

"It appeared to be a routine car fire, but the captain noticed that the fuel was still pumping out of the fluid line," Meaker said. "So he was attempting to disconnect the battery when the fluid picked up ignition and a flash fire started."

Capt. Rhett Hellstern received first-degree burns to his face and second-degree burns around his ears, Meaker said. His eyebrows and facial hair also were singed. The 12-year veteran of the department was taken to the hospital for a couple of hours, where he was treated and later released.

While at the hospital, medical staff performed tests to determine that Hellstern suffered no injuries to his eyes or respiratory system, Meaker said. Doctors asked that he take a couple of days off in order to let the burns heal, Meaker said.

— Ethan Thomas