West Bountiful man remains critical after welding-related blast.

A West Bountiful man remained in critical condition Tuesday, the day after he suffered head injuries when a steel drum he was welding exploded.

South Davis Metro Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Bassett said he had been told the 60-year-old man had been sedated to aid his recovery from facial and head injuries sustained when a piece of the 50-gallon drum struck him when the container exploded about 2:15 p.m. Monday.

The accident occurred at the man's West Bountiful home.

The drum had appeared to be empty, authorities were told, but apparently it contained enough fumes from an unidentified flammable residue to ignite the blast when it was heated.

The man, whose identity was being withheld until his family gave permission to release it, was unconscious when flown by helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where he remained Tuesday.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims