A retired Baltimore County firefighter suffered second-degree burns over his entire body when chemicals he said he was mixing to make fireworks exploded at his Woodlawn home last night, a county fire official said.

Patrick W. Monaghan, 50, of the 2000 block of Hillside Drive was in critical condition early today in the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

Monaghan retired from the Westview Station on a disability pension several years ago, said Deputy Chief Gary Warren.

Warren said the victim's wife was not injured, but the couple's house was extensively damaged.

According to Warren, Monaghan was mixing black powder and magnesium (a lightweight metal used in making incendiary devices) in his basement workshop when they exploded about 7 p.m., blowing off Monaghan's clothes and burning his body.

Warren said firefighters found Monaghan conscious near a basement door and carried him to safety. "He told his rescuers what happened" before he was flown by Med-Evac helicopter to Bayview, Warren said.

Pub Date: 3/19/99