Condition improves for Fallon man injured in furnace blast

A Fallon man injured during a furnace blast in his apartment Saturday night is making progress at a California burn unit, said his girlfriend on Tuesday.

Trent Workman, 19, who was trying to re-ignite a furnace in his South East Street apartment, suffered burns to his hands and face. He was initially seen at Banner Churchill Community Hospital and eventually was transferred to the University of California Davis burn center.

“Trent is responding well to treatment, and he’s eating,” said Sarah Robertson, who lives with Workman. “His right hand is severely burned.”

Robertson said Workman’s burns on his face are responding to treatment. She said Workman will be at UC Davis for at least a week as long as “he keeps healing.”

Robertson and her father traveled to Davis on Sunday to be with Workman.

Investigators are looking into the apartment explosion. Fallon Police Department reported in a media release the explosion occurred at about 8:18 p.m. at 250 S. East St., apartment 10. Capt. Ron Wenger said the apartment was on fire and that a window had been blown out. He said police began evacuating the surrounding apartments while awaiting for engines from the Fallon Churchill Fire Department to extinguish the flames.

FPD said Workman arrived at Banner Churchill Community Hospital at the same time police were at the apartment. According to Wenger, Workman was trying to re-light a pilot light in his apartment when the explosion occurred, Furthermore, police said Workman, believed to be the only occupant of the apartment at the time of the explosion, left the apartment and headed to the hospital. Wenger said Workman was flown via air ambulance to the burn center.

Wenger said three apartments were damaged, causing two families to be displaced. A local church and the city of Fallon have provided assistance to the families.

Community help

Kathy Rogne Robertson said the explosion and fire destroyed everything, but concerns are for the immediate days and weeks for Workman and her daughter.

Kathy Robertson said clothing, cash donations, bedding, gift cards, etc., are needed at this time.

Workman takes a size XXL in shirt and coat, 36-34 in trouser and size 9 shoe. Sarah Robertson takes a size medium blouse, female size 9 shoe and size 12 in jeans, etc.

Also, two other families have been displaced; one man who rented the third apartment is in need of clothing, and the LVN is trying to find out who lived in the second apartment.

The man’s couch and love seat were ruined. He is also without some clothing and lost most of his trousers: Clothing sizes are trouser, size, 34x32’ shirt size XL; and shoes 11 1/2 to 12.

For the past year the LVN, along with other agencies, individuals and family members using various Facebook and online sites, has sought help from the community to assist these families who have been derailed by fire or other disasters.

The LVN, for these previous disasters, served as a central collection point, and Kathy Robertson has graciously accepted our offer and also His Inspirations at 200 S. Maine St., to help and do the same for Trent and Sarah.

Please drop any items in good shape, gift cards, monetary donations, etc., to the Lahontan Valley News, 2152 Reno Highway, Ste. H. or to His Inspirations on South Maine Street. The family will be at University of California Davis, so we will hold items until they return.