"I'm lucky to be alive," Joseph DePasquale exclaimed in recent days with what one might glean would be the expected exuberance considering the near-death experience he went through about seven weeks ago now.

DePasquale, the life-long Warren resident and current town council president, was the victim in a campfire accident, which occurred the evening of April 1 on Birch Swamp Road. He suffered second and third-degree burns on his upper body, leading to a some three-week stay in the hospital in the intensive care burn ward.

Home and recovering, DePasquale recollected about that fateful event. He said he was attempting to do the proper thing when it came to moving away a nearby container with gas from the growing fire on what was a quite breezy night. Unfortunately, however, things rapidly took a turn for the worse.

The plastic gas can was situated about 10 feet from the fire, but it did not have a regular cap. Instead a wooden dowel had been inserted to prevent spillage. While attempting to move it, the dowel fell out of the container. The exiting fumes created what he called a "fireball," the can exploding in his hand and the flames swiftly engulfing the clothing he was wearing at the time: a hooded pull-over sweatshirt, a flannel shirt and a t-shirt.

"I was fortunate at some point in my life I learned that you were supposed to hold your breath and close your eyes in a fire, so I did those things," DePasquale recalled. "I then tried to drop-and-roll out the flames, but that didn't work. Then I knew I was in a life-and-death situation so I had to get my clothes off. After twice trying to get them off, I knew I was running out of time. And I was fortunate on the third attempt to finally get them off."

As the situation was evolving and deteriorating, a call was quickly made to the Warren Fire Department. Chief Jim Sousa and his rescue crew arrived on scene within five to 10 minutes of the accident.

Conscious and verbal, DePasquale was able to inform the chief about what had happened and his injuries. The WFD crew was fast-acting, starting treatment immediately and urgently sending him on for emergency care.

DePasquale ultimately suffered third degree burns on his left hand with second degree burns on his stomach, right hand and face.

"Double kudos to the members of the Warren Fire and Rescue Department. They're all first class. I wouldn't be here without their efforts," DePasquale said. "They were absolutely fantastic. I couldn't be more proud of the things they did for me and that they represent the Town of Warren."

Having plenty of time since to ponder what occurred, DePasquale admitted it was a series of costly missteps that put him in this arduous conundrum.

"What the problem was, (the gas can) wasn't vented. The vent was closed. It had a dowel in the spigot. So I think it was pressurized. And when I lifted it, the dowel came out and it was out in my hand. And I didn't think twice about it. I thought of it as an anti-spilling component. But had I lifted it with that intact, I bet you what happened wouldn't have happened at all," DePasquale hypothesized.

He continued, "When that dowel came out, the tank must have breathed and those fumes were just pushed up. The air took it, the wind took it. And the rest is history.

"The tank expanded with the heat. I have a lot of experience with gasoline. Gasoline is very expandable. So when it expanded and I lifted the tank and the dowel came out, all of that air, all of those fumes were pushed out. And then the winds just blew it right over the fire. I didn't have...probably the whole process took about two seconds.


"I didn't think about how vulnerable we are to fumes. But I was four feet away and the wind was blowing at my back, and that was the same direction as where the fire was. It was a tiny little campfire. And the thing exploded."

Like he did with the Warren FD, DePasquale lauded the care he received right after the harrowing event and continues to get with daily visits from healthcare providers to redress his wounds.

"Everyone at the hospital was so professional and courteous. They truly are lifesavers," he said. "After being in the burn unit, this is a holiday compared to what some other people go through," DePasquale said. "I was with someone who had a nightgown on and it was polyester and it stuck to her. I don't know her condition, but let me tell you, she was much worse off burned than me. God bless every victim there."

This isn't the first time DePasquale has been the ill-fated victim of a health-related accident. About 25 years ago he lost a finger when his wedding ring got caught on the bow of a boat. He's hoping in this instance, his misfortune can serve as a caution to others.

"I just grimace now that I think about people possibly having the kind of an accident that I went through," DePasquale said. "And the suffering I've gone through. If I can help one person to not go through what I went through to just really think twice and follow the safety directions. (A flammable container) is supposed to be 25 feet away or more.

"I would absolutely sacrifice my pain and suffering if one person thinks twice when they're dealing with gasoline. It shouldn't be put in your car or your lawnmower when it's running. And I wasn't even putting the gas on the fire. It was in the proximity of the location I was at. Everybody has to think twice when they're dealing with gasoline."


While he's healing and regaining his functions, DePasquale said he has to be especially mindful of being exposed to the sun, adding, "I'm going to have to be aware of that a lot more than I used to be." Other than that, he considers himself quite fortunate.

"I'm absolutely on the road to recovery. My left hand is still a little behind, but I'm getting there. It's part of the process of getting my life back, but it's much less painful, much less stressful than it was only a few weeks ago," he said.

Feeling better, DePasquale was eager to reclaim some semblance of normalcy. One aspect of that was making his return to his seat on the town hall dais, doing so at the council's May 13 meeting.

"I'm ready to be back. I can sit in my chair at home, so I can sit in a chair at the council meeting," he said.

DePasquale was, in fact, in attendance at last week's gathering. Visibly and audibly moved, he began the forum with the following thoughts:

"I had a pretty dramatic accident. I had a gasoline explosion, and I was on fire, and it was pretty life threatening. And I'd like to thank (members of the the Warren Fire Department) the chief (James Sousa), Chris Stanley, and Matt Primano. They were first on the scene.

"And I almost died. And without them and our rescue squad, and our fire department...you don't know what it's like to, well, those of you who have had an accident, you know what it's like. And those of you who don't, to hear those sirens... thank God they're coming."

Upon those final words, his peers on the council and a rather sizable crowd in the audience rose to give him an ovation.

Back to the previous conversation, as for the hope that this is the last time he finds himself in a precarious position in his, admittedly, quite colorful existence to date, DePasquale concluded, "I don't know, man, I have a lot of life left. Things happen to me."