San Diego

A 39-year-old man suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns to his face, neck and arms Wednesday when a tank of diesel fuel exploded on a 214-foot Mexican fishing ship docked at the 10th Avenue Terminal, causing damage estimated at $1,000, Fire Department officials said. Benjamin Fuentes was welding a hatch cover to a fish tank used as auxiliary storage for several hundred gallons of fuel when the contents ignited, causing a flash fire, Battalion Chief Bill Flohr said. Fuentes was thrown against the bulkhead of the 1,200-ton tuna clipper, he said. “The practice of filling unused fish tanks with fuel makes these ships floating bombs,” Flohr said. “The man is lucky to be alive.” Fuentes was transported to UC San Diego Medical Center and reported to be in fair condition.