Abstract: At approximately 4:00 a.m. on June 29, 2003, Employees #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9, who were firefighters, were responding to a fire at an industrial laundry and linen supply service. During the firefighting operation, an acetylene tank exploded. Employees #!, #2, #3, #4, # 5, and #6 were hospitalized with chemical burns to their face. Employees #7, #8, and #9 were hospitalized with burns and scalds to their fingers. The fire began in a clothes hamper filled with freshly washed linen. Ignition was caused by a chemical reaction between the laundry detergent, oil stains on the garments, and heat building up in the pile of steaming hot clothes.