Canadian man injured by explosion after pouring gunpowder on fire, police say

NANAIMO, British Columbia — A Canadian man was seriously injured Wednesday after he “decided it would be a good idea” and poured gunpowder over open flames, investigators said.

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Rescue crews responded to a call of an explosion around 10 p.m., CTV reported.

“Two adult males were in the backyard and members learned that one of them had decided that it would be a good idea to pour gunpowder on the fire and, in doing so, the flame from the fire caught onto the gunpowder and went up the gunpowder into a metal container he was pouring it out of,” Constable Gary O’Brien, spokesperson for the Nanaimo Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told the Victoria News.

Metal shards caused by the explosion sliced the victim’s hand. He was taken to a hospital by a friend and treated for severe cuts to his hand.

“He’s very lucky he didn’t lose his hand,” O’Brien told CTV. “They shouldn’t have been shocked with the results, when you mix alcohol with open fire and gunpowder.”

When police responded to the explosion, they noticed an illegal alcohol still on the property.

“That was dismantled and he was duly warned,” O’Brien said.

Investigators said no charges will be filed.

“Let’s just say alcohol may have been a contributing factor,” O’Brien said.

Cox Media Group