Just thought this may qualify a local from me for an honorable mention, lemme know what you think.

Man survives paint-can explosion

BY ABE WINTER

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

One little can of spray paint can do a lot of damage.

The paint can's warning label, "DANGER! EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE," was still readable after the garage explosion at 4522 Parker St.

Especially when you set it on top of a propane heater.

A can of red spray paint exploded this morning inside a detached garage at 4522 Parker St. The blast knocked the garage off its foundation, buckled the (closed) garage door and displaced part of the roof.

The paint can actually was imbedded in the ceiling.

"I never would have expected one can of paint could do that," Battalion Chief Erhard Havranek said as he looked over the damage from the explosion, which occurred about 7:15 this morning.

The man who lives at the address, Travis Chidester, 26, suffered second-degree burns to his hands and face when the paint can exploded, officials said.

Havranek said the man apparently was warming the spray paint on top of a propane heater near the back of the garage and was planning to paint the front end of his car.

The man, who had paint on his clothing and body, put out a small fire that started on the masking paper he had on other parts of the car, Havranek said.

He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center by ambulance.

Kim Brunow, store manager for Pioneer Paint & Decorating in Omaha, said she always recommends that people read the warning label on cans of paint.

"Because solvent-based paints emit fumes that are highly flammable, they should always be kept away from radiant heat," she said. "Just about every manufacturer has a warning label that tells you to keep it away from heat sources."

The warning label on the spray paint can was still readable as the can hung from the ceiling of the garage.

Havranek said the damage is a good reminder for people to be careful when dealing with such items in an enclosed building. He said the department would use the incident in firefighter training.

"People should understand that you can't mix a pressurized can and heat," he said. "He's lucky to be alive."

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

Copyright ©2006 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.

Submitted on 02/17/2006

Submitted by: Aaron Hall
Reference: Omaha.com 2/17/06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
"The man apparently was warming the spray paint on top of a propane heater near the back of the garage and was planning to paint the front end of his car"...that's all I need to know! WHY would he want to do that? Couldn't he have waited until the spring when the weather is warmer? This incident rather reminds me of the fellow with the Lava Lamp! I'll vote to keep as an HM!

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
The web site doesn't support my browser, but I must admit that I'm somewhat dubious about a can of spray paint causing that much damage unless the explosion of the spray can caused some unburnt propane to explode as well. Enough of the paint can (embedded in what was left of the roof) was left to show the warning label? Ah well, he was doing something quite stupid and that's what counts. Thanks, Aaron.

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common

Greg said:
Maybe Toss: Honorable Mention
I'm not sure. Dangerous enough? Really? Thanks anyway.

Charles said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I agree with James, that this is worthy... but I'm not sure, we do seem to have a lot of "flammable objects on the heater" stories.

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