S.C. man escapes from burning tanning bed

[March 11, 2009]  ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) -- Authorities say a man escaped from a burning tanning bed just before it burst into flames, igniting a fire that damaged several stores and forced people to leave a shopping center.

The (Rock Hill) Herald reported Tuesday that no one was injured in the fire, including the man who jumped from the bed.

The fire occurred Monday at an Ultratan tanning salon near Rock Hill.

The man said he heard a popping noise while working on his tan, then saw a flame at the corner of the tanning bed near his foot. Several dozen firefighters arrived at the scene to battle the blaze as shoppers and store workers gathered in the parking lot and the smell of charred plastic filled the air.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.heraldonline.com/

[Associated Press]

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