Washington Boro, NJ - A worker removing an old car lift in the service bays received second degree burns to his face and hands when a cutting torch ignited fluid inside the lift.

The Warren County Communications Center dispatched township police and first responders to the call at 9:32 A.M. on November 30th, advising that there was an explosion, but the fire was out at Dave’s Friendly Service Center on West Washington Avenue in the Boro.

Washington Rescue Squad Captain Rob Kerschner advised the Communication Center that they needed air medical for one burn victim and additional BLS units from neighboring Franklin Township and Hampton, as there were five victims that needed to be evaluated.

A landing zone was set up by Washington Township and Boro Fire Departments in a field next to the Township’s Brass Castle Firehouse. Atlantic Air One was assigned to the call by New Jersey’s Regional Emergency Communications System (REMCS), which is located in Newark.

The burn victim was transported to the landing zone by paramedics from Washington Rescue Squad. He was then transferred to Atlantic Air One and flown to the burn center at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, Pennsylvania.

The other patients were evaluated at the scene but refused further medical treatment.

Responding to this incident were the Washington Twp. PD (Patrol 76), Washington Twp. FD (Station 76), Washington Boro FD (Station 83), Washington Rescue Squad (83 Rescue), Franklin Twp. FD’s EMS Division (57 Rescue), Hampton Rescue Squad (Hunterdon County 13 Rescue), North Hunterdon EMS (58 Rescue), Paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center (EMS 4), and the Warren County Fire Marshal (Station 33).

The incident is under investigation by the Washington Twp. Police and Warren County Fire Marshal.