Vista

A 38-year-old transient suffered third-degree burns over 60% of his body on Tuesday when cigarette embers ignited his clothes and sleeping bag in a closed Vista garage, authorities said.

Barry Adams had apparently been smoking when he fell asleep in a garage in the 1000 block of La Tortuga Drive, fire officials said. Fire and arson investigators determined that embers from Adams’ cigarette ignited a fire within inches of his head.

Adams told firefighters that he awakened about 3:30 a.m. He was on fire and ran around the dark garage trying to find a way out, firefighters said.

Adams’ flaming clothes and sleeping bag were extinguished when a nearby resident heard his screams and told him to drop and roll on the ground, and poured water on the remaining flames.

Adams was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition and was being treated for burns to his chest, arms, legs and abdomen, a hospital spokeswoman said.