A fire at Community Service Tire in Lakeland, Fla., has caused about $1 million in damage, according to local media reports.
Employees said they were painting tires with a mixture that contained gasoline while a fire burned near them to keep mosquitos away around 5 p.m.
When an employee accidentally bumped the mixture into the fire, an explosion occurred that caused flames to cover about 60 % of two buildings and spread to nearby piles of tires, a Lakeland Fire Department official said.
According to local media reports, the fire lasted about 2 1/2 hours and damaged items valued at $300,000 and caused $685,000 in property damage.
Officials also said an employee and a child escaped the burning building without injuries and propane tanks contributed to the explosion.
No one was injured by the fire.