Chilton County man dies after gas can explodes near bonfire
Published 5:09 pm Monday, March 30, 2015
A Chilton County man died Sunday from severe burns suffered when a gasoline container exploded near a bonfire.
Assistant Chief Deputy Shane Mayfield with the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department said around 2 a.m. Sunday, a 911 call was reportedly made by Michael Fallin, 20, after sustaining the burns.
Fallin allegedly told emergency personnel he thought he was still on fire and was telling individuals around him he loved them.
Mayfield said a group of individuals were gathered at a bonfire in the 500 block of County Road 127, just south of the Shelby County line, off U.S. Highway 155, when the incident occurred.
Preliminary reports indicate a gas can exploded after gas was poured on the fire.
Mayfield said several other individuals also called 911 to report the incident, and they were being interviewed on Monday.
According to Mayfield, the call was originally dispatched as a burn.
Fallin was airlifted to UAB Hospital, where he died later Sunday evening.
Mayfield said it was unclear if Fallin died due to the burns on his body or possible inhalation burns, but Mayfield learned about 85 percent of Fallin’s body was covered in burns.
The Chilton County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation, but Mayfield said he did not suspect any foul play in Fallin’s death.
“We are going to talk to some of the witnesses who were at the bonfire and the individuals who called 911 and see if we can find out more of what happened,” Mayfield said.
Fallin graduated from Jemison High School in 2013 and was a member of the Jemison Blue Regiment Band.