Man Suffers Severe Burns After Explosion In Palm Desert

A 35-year-old employee of a Palm Desert pool company suffered burns to nearly a third of his body today when a propane line exploded at a home under construction, authorities said.

The explosion was reported at 7:30 a.m. at a home at 71301 Cholla Lane in Palm Desert, said Capt. Fernando Herrera of the Riverside County Fire Department.

Investigators believe Victor Regalado of Thermal was testing a propane line inside an underground pool vault when a spark exploded escaped gas, said Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Regalado, who works for Dunn’s Designer Pools, was taken by helicopter to a burn center at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Valenzuela said.