Man receives burns after pouring gasoline on fire

A Fond du Lac man was burned Saturday when he attempted to pour gasoline onto a fire in the backyard of a Park Avenue residence Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Department and Police were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of north Park Avenue just before 6 PM. A caller reported hearing an explosion and could see smoke coming from behind a house.

Upon arrival, officers found the fire was contained to a fire pit in the backyard, however a man was inside the house with burns sustained from the fire. Investigation showed the man had poured gas from a gas can onto the fire and the fire travelled up stream into the can, causing it to blow up in the mans hands, igniting his clothes. The force of the explosion was strong enough to blow the top of the can off the container, and at the time, was unable to be found. 

Fond du Lac Fire Rescue used the incident to remind everyone to NEVER use gasoline or other flammable liquid to light any type of recreational fire. They also noted, in the City of Fond du Lac, there’s an ordinance dealing directly with recreational fire pits that strictly prohibits the use of flammable liquids.