Frozen frolic fetches foolish fiery fracas; ill-fated frat fellow found fricasseed

LA VALLE (AP) -- Authorities said a flash fire that injured two Chicago men and an Indiana man was caused by the accidental use of propane in an air mattress.

The three men in their late thrities, Chad Bohlman, Chris Riley, and Mark Lecy, suffered second-degree burns and smoke inhalation after a flash fire started in the backseat of the car they were riding in Friday, authorities said.

Riley and Lecy were upgraded to serious condition Saturday, but Bohlman was still listed as critical at Emanuel Lutheran Medical Center in Baraboo, a hospital spokeswoman said.

La Valle Fire Chief Steve Bowers said the three accidentally filled an air mattress with propane at a gas station at Janesville.

"They asked some people where they could fill up their air mattress," Bowers said. "But right next to the air hose was a propane line, and they filled the mattress with propane instead of
air."

Propane expands as it gets warmer. The air mattress probably expanded and was leaking propane, Bowers said.

The explosion occurred when one of the men lit a match to light a cigarette, he said.

Suspicion has been cast on the men of intentionally filling the mattresses with propane. A Google search revealed that the annual broomball event held each year usually involves pyrotechnics.

The event, held some random weekend after Superbowl weekend, has included flame throwing in the past.

"The first few years we usually had one or two of the men in for stitches on game day," said the hospital spokeswoman. "But now we are seeing more and more incidents of smoke inhalation and burns to the face."

The man listed in critical condition, Chad Bohlman, age 37, was unable to comment that video has posted on a website showing him engulfed in flames. The website has been shutdown and a subpoena has been issued for the video.

Last year reports of the broomballers 'opening ceremonies' included primal drum beats and a burning sacrifice of a near-virgin.

"When will this f**king madness end?" said Chief Bowers.