Dalton man burned after opening bag with lighter, firefighters say

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — An elderly man went to the hospital with burn injuries on Wednesday, according to the Dalton Fire Department.

The fire department said the 75-year-old man was attempting to open a bag of chips with a lighter, while sitting in a recliner. They said he was unable to open the bag with his hands.

While using the lighter, firefighters said the man accidentally set himself on fire at his apartment on Sir Lancelot Place in Dalton.

Firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire, which started around 4:30 p.m.

Maintenance workers kept the fire from spreading past the recliner with a water hose until firefighters arrived.

The elderly man went to a hospital in Chattanooga with third-degree burns on about 75% of his body, according to the fire department.

They said he was transported to a burn center.

Dalton fire officials said on Thursday that they do not know his current condition.