KAYSVILLE — A house painter in his 30s was critically burned Tuesday when an explosion erupted at a house where the man was lacquering shelves in the basement.

Fire investigators are not completely sure what caused the explosion at 915 S. Whisperwood Cove but confirmed that a pilot light in the house was left on, which could have mixed with lacquer fumes to spark the explosion, said Kaysville Fire Chief Brett Larkin.

"It appeared that there was a pilot light on, so we are assuming he didn't get them all turned off like he thought he had," Larkin said.

The house was empty except for the painter, who was quickly flown to the burn unit at University Hospital.

Federico Corona, 13, was in the yard next door when he heard the explosion and came over to find the painter coming up the stairs begging for water. Federico said there was plenty of smoke in the house and it was hard to breathe, even for the short time he was in there.

"He had skin hanging off his arms; it looked like third-degree burns," Federico said. "He didn't have burns on his face, but he was covered in ash."

One of the other neighbors who came to the home to help was taken to the hospital as a precaution due to smoke inhalation he suffered while putting out a small fire down in the basement, Larkin said.

The explosion was strong enough to cause a bright flash and blow out several windows and a door in the house, but the fire damage was minimal, Larkin said.

The identity of the painter has not yet been released.

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