Attleboro Man Dies After Flash Fire Explosion

ATTLEBORO — A 26-year-old Attleboro man has died from injuries he sustained in a flash fire explosion at an industrial building in the city last week.

Officials said Nathan Collito was badly burned at the Composite Modules building on Union Street in the Nov. 11 incident, and succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 13.

A joint investigation by Attleboro police and fire, the state fire marshal, and state police found that Collito, an employee at the company, was working alone on the third floor at around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday.

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He was using a chemical during a cleaning procedure when the chemical accidentally ignited, causing the explosion and flash fire that burned him.

Officials said the fire was extinguished almost immediately by the building's sprinkler system.

Fire crews responded to the alarm and 911 calls from other workers, arriving to find Collito seriously injured.

He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital but passed away two days later.

Attleboro Fire Chief Scott LaChance called it a "terrible tragedy."

"On behalf of the Attleboro Fire Department, I’d like to express our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Collito’s family and loved ones,” LaChance said.