Iola city employee Trent Rhodes is in a burn unit in Kansas City following an accident at his home Saturday.
Rhodes was burned while cutting on a piece of metal, Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy said.
Investigators believe a spark struck his jacket and ignited.
It looked like a piece of railroad track, Murphy said, of the metal.
His wife, Keri, saw the incident and used water to douse the flames, but not before they had quickly engulfed Rhodes.
He was taken to Allen County Regional Hospital, and later by ambulance to the University of Kansas Medical Centers burn unit, with burns to 45 percent of his body. He remains in the unit this morning.
According to a family members Facebook account, Rhodes has undergone several surgeries, and is on dialysis.
He is being kept sedated while he heals.
A GoFundMe account has been set up Trents name to assist the family while he is off of work. Enter Helping Trent Rhodes and family in the search bar.
Rhodes and wife Keri have two children, ages 4 and 2.
