Freak accident leaves Tri-Cities man badly burned. He’ll be hospitalized for weeks

A Tri-Cities man is at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with third-degree burns over a third of his body after a freak accident.

When Zach Whittlesey, 43, dropped his lighter on Friday, his pant leg caught fire and he was quickly engulfed in flames, according to a GoFundMe posted by Stephanie Richards of Kennewick.

Apparently something flammable had spilled on his clothing while he was working on a construction job, although Richards does not know what because he has been sedated since the accident.

Doctors performed surgery to remove burned skin on his arm, chest and back where circulation was being cut off due to tissue swelling.

Whittlesey, 43, of Kennewick, will be in the hospital for at least three weeks and then he’ll need physical therapy before he can return to work.

“ ... he won’t be able to work for a long time,” said the fundraiser announcement.

The fire also destroyed his truck and everything in it, including his work tools.

Any donations will go directly to Whittlesey, according to the fundraiser.

To donate, go to bit.ly/ZachWhittlesey.

This story was originally published November 11, 2024 at 11:12 AM.