Four teens burned when can explodes

FREEPORT – Four teenage boys suffered burns Saturday in an explosion at a mobile home.

The four, whose names were not released, were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with second- and third-degree burns to the upper body, Fire Chief Darrel Fournier said.

The blast occurred around 1 p.m. at the trailer on Baker Road when one of the juveniles lit a cigarette lighter while someone apparently was spraying an aerosol cleaning product used to remove gum and candle wax from floors, Fournier said.

The force of the explosion blew out the rear wall about three feet, Fournier said. It also blew out six windows throughout the trailer and lifted part of the ceiling.

Damage to the dwelling, where one of the boys lived, was estimated at $14,000, the chief said. He said the owners of the home were not present at the time.