Disgruntled Ex-Worker Burned in Blaze : Man Was Allegedly Trying to Torch Convalescent Hospital

A disgruntled former employee was seriously burned when he allegedly tried to use gasoline to set fire to a convalescent hospital in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

Jose Francisco Herrera was spreading gasoline around a laundry room of the Valley Palms Convalescent Hospital in Van Nuys about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday when the fuel exploded, police said.

While they declined to elaborate on what caused the explosion, fire officials said they did not believe Herrera ignited the gasoline.

Doused by Sprinkler

Fire officials said an emergency sprinkler system in a ceiling kept the blaze from spreading beyond the laundry room and firefighters extinguished it in 15 minutes. No one else was injured.

Herrera, suffering from a separated shoulder, head injuries and third-degree burns over 90% of his body, fled the hospital and drove away. He had driven three blocks when two police officers noticed his erratic driving and pulled him over for suspected drunk driving at about midnight at Sherman Way and Woodman Avenue.

“They walked up to the car expecting to see a drunk driver,” said Sgt. Charles Meter. “At this point there had been no report yet of any fire or explosion anywhere. But what they saw was this horribly burned individual sitting there behind the wheel with his body still smoldering. The guy was just burned to a crisp.”

No Evacuation

Meter said Herrera did not say anything when the officers asked him what had happened.

“He tried to,” Meter said. “He moved his lips to say something but nothing came out.”

Damage to the room and equipment was estimated at $5,000. The fire was not large enough or near enough to patients’ rooms to force evacuation of the hospital, officials said.

Herrera, 26, of Van Nuys, was reported in critical condition Wednesday in the burn unit of the jail ward at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Investigation Continues

Herrera was arrested on suspicion of possession of an explosive, but officials said an arson investigation is continuing and Herrera could face additional charges.

According to information from Meter and the Los Angeles Fire Department, Herrera had been fired three months ago from the hospital in the 13400 block of Sherman Way. The nature of his job at the hospital and the reasons for his dismissal could not be determined and officials at the convalescent hospital declined comment.