Burned on his first day at work

Friday, September 25, 2009

A 19-year-old Jersey City man suffered burns to his hands and face yesterday while trying to extinguish a burning school bus that apparently burst into flames while someone was attempting to siphon gasoline from it, officials said.

At 9:12 a.m., firefighters responded to the Hudson County Transportation Company lot at Amity Street and Fairmount Avenue and found the bus on fire, Fire Director Armando Roman said.

Employee Oleg Bartkin suffered burns to his face and hands while trying to put out the fire, Roman said, adding that it was the teen's first day on the job. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment, Roman said.

Arson investigators deemed the blaze suspicious after finding the gas cap was removed and a hose had been fed into the gas tank.

MICHAELANGELO CONT