Chula Vista

Four Fredricka Manor maintenance employees were injured Tuesday morning when one of the workers lit a cigarette lighter while working with a highly flammable epoxy solvent, fire fighters said.

Officials suspect that 18-year-old Jorge Varela of Chula Vista caused the flash fire by attempting to light a cigarette while stripping a linoleum floor in one of the retirement community’s cottages.

Varela and another worker, 18-year-old Stacy Adams, also of Chula Vista, were taken by Life Flight helicopter to the UC San Diego Medical Center burn unit, where both were admitted for treatment of second- and third-degree burns.

Varela was listed in serious condition Tuesday night with burns over 40% of his body. Adams, who suffered burns over 20% of his body was listed in fair condition.

Two other workmen, Issac Martinez, 20, and Michael Broskowski, 24, were taken to Bay Hospital Medical Center and treated for smoke inhalation. Both were released Tuesday afternoon.