Fireball Erupts From Methuen Vehicle, Man Hospitalized

METHUEN, MA — A man has been hospitalized after he allegedly lit off a large fireball from a vehicle Tuesday afternoon.

Fire responders arrived to Hitchingpost Lane around 4 p.m. for a report of an explosion. They found that the person who was inside the parked vehicle had taken off shortly after a "large fireball" erupted from it. The vehicle did not catch fire, and there was not any danger to the community, Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said.

Still, Solomon played it safe and called in a HazMat team and the state's Bomb Squad.

The man who allegedly ignited the fireball was found soon after in Haverhill. He was hospitalized with burn injuries, the severity of which are not know.

Photo of the suspect provided by Methuen Police