Poway

A Poway man suffered third-degree burns on the face and hands Thursday when boxes of gunpowder and ammunition exploded while he frantically tried to remove them from his burning garage, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

John Lindquist, 55, of Gate Drive in Poway, was listed in moderate condition at University Hospital, where he taken by helicopter.

When firemen arrived about 12:15 p.m., Lindquist was trying to put out the blaze with a garden hose. Then he ran into the garage and tried to carry out boxes of explosives.

Officials estimate the garage contained 50 to 60 containers of explosives. They said about 60 pounds of it was involved in the explosion.

Firefighter Mike White was treated for smoke inhalation at a hospital and released, the sheriff’s office said.