Abstract: At approximately 5:15 p.m. on October 31, 1996, Employee #1 was removing fuel from one of the seven aircraft located in the maintenance portion of aircraft hanger A. At the same time, Employee #2 was working in the avionics lab located on the second level mezzanine of the hangar. Employee #1 was removing fuel from the plane by letting it flow down into a plastic drum. Fuel vapors were released into the air, where they were ignited, apparently by static electricity. Employee #1 immediately attempted to extinguish the fire. Flames and smoke gathered at the foot of the only stairs from the mezzanine, trapping Employee #2. He was forced to escape through a window and was then transported to the hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and kept overnight for observation. After helping to extinguish the fire, Employee #1 was treated for smoke and dry chemical inhalation, and then released.