LEWISTON – A Blake Street man was being treated for burns late Thursday after a freak mishap in his apartment that involved butane and a lighted cigarette.

Police said 34-year-old John Emerson suffered second-degree burns to his legs and hands when the burning tip of his cigarette fell while he was filling a lighter with butane.

Emerson’s girlfriend and a neighbor got him into a tub of cold water to minimize the pain from the wounds suffered in the 8:45 p.m. accident, police said.

When police, fire and rescue crews arrived at the 18 Blake St. apartment house, the hallway on the second floor was filled with smoke and the smell of butane.

Emerson was taken by ambulance to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was being treated for the burns late Thursday night.

“The wounds are not life-threatening, but he’s going to be a little uncomfortable,” said Lewiston police Lt. Tom Avery.

Avery said Emerson had been walking inside his apartment, filling his butane lighter, while a lighted cigarette dangled from his mouth.

Emerson stumbled and the butane spilled on his legs, Avery said.

At about the same time, the tip of his cigarette fell, causing the butane to ignite.

Emerson and his girlfriend extinguished the flames, but they’d burned through his clothes. Nobody else was hurt during the ordeal.