Man Suffers Severe Burns after an Explosion in his Apartment
Published June 4th, 2012
By: Yaremi Farinas
It may have been legal trouble that led to an apartment explosion in Southwest Gainesville.
A resident suffered severe burns in the incident, which happened early this morning.
Police officers suspect it was no accident.
A resident suffered severe burns in the incident, which happened early this morning.
Police officers suspect it was no accident.
Several 911 calls came in just after two thirty this morning. About an explosion at Gateway at Glades apartments.
It happened on the third floor in apartment 133.
"We made entry and found the apartment was barricaded and found one subject inside," a Gainesville firefighter.
Fire fighters had to force the door open to get inside since the front door was locked.
Minutes later they found 57-year-old Paul Bhawnani unconscious. Gainesville police spokesperson Cpl. Angelina Valuri said the man was fully dressed and sitting inside his bathtub. A tub that was partially filled with gasoline.
Gainesville Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Hayes exactly how much gasoline was inside.
"There was 15 gallons of gasoline that was found inside of a bathtub. We don't know what the initial source was," said Hayes.
Officers suspect Bhawnani was trying to kill himself.
According to court records, he was arrested by Gainesville police on April 19th on a misdemeanor battery charge and was due to be arraigned this Thursday.
This morning, no other residents were hurt and Hayes tells us the sprinkler system.
"Did it's job and put the fire out and kept it from going any other place, gave people time to evacuate from the apartments."
we got in contact with Corky Gatewood who manages the apartments.
He told us three units were damaged and the residents were relocated to another apartment on the property.
We were not able to speak to neighbors because our crew was kicked off the grounds by workers for the gateway at glades complex.
Fire fighters said the Bhawnani left the scene in critically condition with severe burns.
He was transported to Shands hospital.
