An everyday gesture turned tragic. An 80-year-old man was seriously burned while trying to light the fireplace in his home in San Potito, in the province of Avellino.
According to initial investigations, the elderly man used ethyl alcohol to facilitate the combustion of the wood. This decision proved fatal: a sudden backfire hit him full force, striking his face, arms, and chest. His burns immediately appeared very serious.
Neighbors raised the alarm after hearing the screams and seeing smoke coming from the house. The man was initially taken to Moscati Hospital in Avellino, where doctors assessed the severity of his condition and ordered his urgent transfer to Cardarelli Hospital in Naples.
He is currently hospitalized in the burns unit and is under close observation. Staff are monitoring the progression of his injuries and potential complications related to the extent of the burns. This incident refocuses attention on the risks associated with using flammable substances to light fireplaces or stoves, a practice that is still widespread but extremely dangerous.
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 17/02/2026 at 17:46 PM - Title typo corrected
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
What happened to this 80-year-old man is truly tragic. Burns are always serious, and alcohol should never be used to light a fireplace, yet many people continue to do so without considering the risks.