A 74-year-old Odin man who received critical burns in a flash fire when throwing fuel onto a brush fire on Thursday afternoon has died as a result of his injuries.
David Michael Schlais passed away on Friday at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis where he was transferred by medical helicopter from the Odin School parking lot.
Odin Fire Chief Greg Smith says Schlais was pouring some type of accelerant from a coffee can he was holding when the fire flashed and caught him on fire. A neighbor reported hearing the sound of the fire flashing and then heard Schalis screaming for help. He received burns from the waist up.
Smith says Schlais was in extreme pain but was conscious when the fire department arrived on the scene. Firemen helped United Medical Response transport him to the school and then onto the air ambulance.
Funeral services for Schlais are pending at the Crouse Funeral Home in Salem. Online condolences may be made at CrouseFH.com.
