Landscaper hospitalized for burns

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NAUGATUCK — A landscaper is in the hospital after an accident Monday afternoon at the site of the former Peter Paul plant.

Fire personnel said the man was gassing up a lawn mower in the back of a truck owned by HLC Lawn Maintenance, which maintains the property, when it caught fire, burning the laborer and setting the truck ablaze.

The truck caught fire when a worker attempted to refuel a lawn mower inside of it.
The truck caught fire when a worker attempted to refuel a lawn mower inside of it.

Fire Captain Rich Alfes cited heat and the enclosed space as possible contributing factors, but said details were not yet known.

He added that the inferno was sizable when the firemen arrived.

“We saw it all the way from Al’s Hot Dog Stand,” Alfes said, “just to give you an idea.”

Al’s is over a mile away from the former Peter Paul property at 885 New Haven Road.

The truck was gutted and appeared totaled. Alfes said the worker was taken to Saint Mary’s hospital in Waterbury, where he’s being treated for burns.

He said the circumstances of the accident were relayed by one of the man’s coworkers. HLC’s proprietor declined to comment.