Van Fire in Hemet Leaves Driver Hospitalized With Burn Injuries

HEMET - A man suffered severe facial burns today when the van he was driving caught fire at a Hemet intersection, a fire captain said.

Firefighters were dispatched at 12:07 p.m. to Elk Street at Devonshire Avenue, where they found an older Dodge van engulfed in flames. A passerby had already helped the driver get out of the burning vehicle, Hemet Fire Department Capt. Brian Altizer said.

The victim, whose name was not immediately released, suffered burns to his legs and arms and was airlifted to a burn center, Altizer said. He was the sole occupant of the van.

The cause of the van fire was under investigation, the captain said.