Two Installers Burned in Flash Fire at Rural Pinckneyville Home

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Two installers for a geothermal climate control company were badly burned in a flash fire at a home four miles northwest of Pinckneyville Wednesday afternoon.

The home is located about three miles west of Rt. 127 on Bethel Church Road.

The men had not yet been identified, according to Pinckneyville Fire Chief Jim Gielow as two trauma helicopters touched down at the Rick Miller home to airlift them to St. John's Hospital's burn center in St. Louis.

According to the fire chief, the men were installing the state of the art underground heating and cooling system, and were working in the basement. Gielow said they were apparently pumping an alcohol-based anti-freeze into the piping when the fumes were ignited by the flame from a woodburning stove.

The flash fire burned both men on their face, upper torso and arms. Gielow described the burns as "serious."

As firemen and EMTs worked at the scene two trauma helicopters from Arch Medical Evacuation Services were already taking off and were at the scene in less than 20 minutes. They landed on the grounds near the home. The men were placed onboard each of the aircraft, which immediately took off and headed for St. Louis.

Firemen worked to extinguish the fire in the basement, which sent heavy smoke throughout the house.

At 4:30 p.m. Wednesday there was no word on the men's condition.