By Ren Turner//Staff

A Georgia Power worker is at Grady Memorial Hospital after 80 percent of his body was burned following an explosion Thursday. The explosion ignited on Birmingham Highway in Milton after crews trying to install a new power line poll mistakenly drilled into a gas line.

The victim, 25-year-old Kylan Warren, a six-year veteran of the power company, from Elijay, was 30 feet up in a work truck’s bucket at the time of the 1:31 p.m. explosion.  After finding himself caught up in the flames, Warren jumped from the bucket and was pulled to safety by co-workers, but not before sustaining major burns to the majority of his body.

Warren was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital where he is still recovering. It is not known how long he will be hospitalized.

A second crew member attempted to help Warren after he jumped, and experienced minor burns on his hands, Georgia Power spokesman Lisa Frederick said. He was treated on site for his injuries. Georgia Power crews were working Birmingham Highway, just south of Providence Road, in Milton early Thursday afternoon when they “came in contact with a natural gas line,” Georgia Power spokeswoman Lynn Wallace said.

Firefighters fought the blaze until around 4 p.m. when the gas leak was contained and the flames retreated.

As policy, Georgia Power usually uses maps and surface markings to avoid gas lines.  Investigators were on the scene Friday trying to determine the detailed cause to Thursday’s firestorm.

Milton residences were forced to find alternate routes while Birmingham Highway was closed for several hours Thursday afternoon between Dorris and Providence roads.

Georgia Power said it’s unclear exactly how the accident happened.

The line is owned by Atlanta Gas Light.

“We’re certainly going to be looking into it and investigating what went on at the site and why it happened,” Wallace, said.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light said they would investigate the incident collaboratively.

“Any time any accident happens, everyone involved fully cooperates,” Frederick said. “We just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Brittany Bass of Milton said, “The mild traffic inconvenience is hardly the story here.  This poor young man and his family are going through a very difficult time, and I think the community should offer our prayers and support in any way we can.”

Trees at the scene offer a charred reminder of the explosion that sent flames soaring and left many nearby residents powerless. About 50 area homes had their power restored Thursday night.