One hurt in St. Charles hotel fire

A 41-year-old man was hospitalized today with burns to his face, arm and hands after a flash explosion at a St. Charles hotel.

The man was one of two maintenance contractors servicing a boiler system about 10:30 a.m. at the Country Inns & Suites, 155 38th Ave., when a utility room filled with gas and sparked the explosion, officials said.

The blaze activated the hotel's sprinkler system, which put out the flames, said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Fuller.

The man, who was not identified, was taken to Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva.

"He had some burns to his hand, forearm and the upper part of his face," Fuller said.

While it lasted only briefly, the fire was hot enough to activate two sprinkler heads that come on at 155 degrees, Fuller said.

Authorities had no immediate damage estimate, but Fuller said it probably is in the thousands of dollars.

Fire Lt. John Kessler said at the scene the hotel already was working to repair damages, apparently caused by both sprinkler water and fire.

The business remains open.