LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. -- A volunteer fire chief for Glenoma Fire District 18 in Lewis County was badly burned in an explosion Monday in which batteries in the bed of his truck exploded.

According to The Chronicle, Chief Bob Matchett was carrying two large truck batteries with jumper cables attached in the bed of his truck. Next to the batteries sat a gallon of fiberglass resin.

A fire that broke out caused the batteries to explode.

The back windows in Matchett's truck exploded, sending broken glass and flames into the truck cab.

The chief slammed on the truck's brakes and quickly jumped from the truck in time to see it rolling off the road and into a ditch.

Matchett suffered first- and second-degree burns on the right side of his face and body.

The chief said the cause of the fire may have been caused by the jumper cable that sparked when he hit a bump in the road.

Matchett has been the chief of the all-volunteer district for about 22 years. He has returned to work but is still recovering.