Dexter man injured in leaf-pile explosion

DEXTER – A local man lost a lot of hair and injured a wrist Tuesday when he introduced an accelerant to a pile of burning leaves, and an explosion occurred.

Stephen Whitesel of Shore Road was injured when he added an unknown accelerant to a pile of burning leaves and a blast of sorts resulted, according to Sgt. Jim Emerson of the Dexter Police Department. Emerson said Whitesel apparently was either blown back or fell after the blast, injuring his wrist. Whitesel was taken to Mayo Regional Hospital and later transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he was listed in good condition Wednesday.