Seymour official dies after flash fire

Seymour (AP) - A Seymour, Connecticut, town official has died a month after being burned in a flash fire while working on a neighbor's car.

William Ryan was a longtime member of Seymour's Inland Wetlands Commission and the owner of Ryan Contractors and Builders. The Republican-American of Waterbury reports that he died Tuesday at Bridgeport Hospital. He was 68.

Seymour fire officials say he was trying to start a neighbor's car on July 14 and poured gasoline into the carburetor. Officials say a flash fire burned Ryan's clothes, face, neck, shoulders and arms.

Members of Inland Wetlands Commission plan to donate money to Bridgeport Hospital's burn center in Ryan's name at his family's request.