East Naples man and his trailer catch fire after explosion

EAST NAPLES, Fla.- An explosion rocked a community leaving one man and his trailer on fire.

It happened off Derhenson Drive in a mobile home community. Neighbors say a man was working in his small trailer attached to his SUV when it exploded. “Boom,” says Mary Elliot of what she heard. “It was louder than a transformer.” Frank Qutolo also heard it. “It blew up,” says Qutolo. “It was really loud.”

Qutolo was next door when he heard the explosion and ran out to see what happened. He found a man he calls “Wayne” facedown on the ground. “The man who owns it was laying facedown, screaming get a blanket, get a towel,” recalls Qutolo. He came back with a wet towel but says the man was gone. “By that time, he had gone. I found out he ran down to his mom’s swimming pool and jumped in to get the stuff off of him.” Neighbors say they heard him screaming.

Inside his trailer, neighbors say there are accelerants such as methanol, alcohol and gas. “He must of been in the vehicle when it went off, because he works in there all the time,” says Qutolo.

Printed on the side of the trailer is Wrenchin’ it on the Run. Neighbors say the chemicals inside were for the man’s work. He repairs cars.

The state Fire Marshal was on scene. Fire crews turned the investigation over to the Collier County Sheriffs Office. It’s being called a criminal investigation.

The man was rushed to NCH in downtown Naples. Crews say he had 2nd and 3rd degree burns over about 20% of his body.