A Halloween decoration became an explosive situation in Palm Bay Tuesday night, putting a man in the hospital with severe burns.
Investigators said Ron Nielson, 50, was putting up some Halloween decorations on the front yard of a home on Wacker Avenue. As a joke, they say he poured gasoline on a small wooden cross and lit it on fire.
Gasoline vapors ignited the gas can and exploded, shooting flames into Nielson's chest and back.
A neighbor who identified himself to 911 as an off-duty Melbourne firefighter heard the explosion and called for help.
DISPATCHER: Do you think this was accidental?
CALLER: I think it was accidental. I think he was doing a Halloween decoration, trying to set something up, and it went haywire.
CALLER: He's got some singeing around his mustache, I don't know if he inhaled any of the flames or not.
"If he had inhaled those fumes, then he would be in a lot worse situation," said Ron Bailey, Palm Bay Asst. Fire Marshal.
Nielson was flown to Orlando for treatment of severe burns.
Neighbors said they don't understand such a prank.
"There could have been small children around," said Isabella Deese. "Not only that, he could have burned down half the neighborhood doing something ridiculous like that."
Assistant Fire Marshal Bailey said this time of year people can get a bit carried away with their Halloween displays.
It's imperative people do not use open flames, especially in their yard, where costumed children come to trick or treat.
"We've got to keep it safe," Bailey said. "If a little kid comes up in your yard and sustains burn injuries because of a decoration you have, well guess what, you're going to be liable."
Nielsen remains in the hospital.