An Ahoskie electrician was badly burned in an arc-flash accident at Elizabeth City's Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant Tuesday, a store official said.

David Doyle, a licensed worker in several types of maintenance, was changing a breaker in the restaurant when an electric current flashed, setting his clothes on fire, KFC area supervisor Patti Lamb said.

Doyle put out the fire using water from a dish sink, Lamb said. However, he apparently suffered serious burns in the incident.

Not wanting to lose time waiting for an ambulance, Lamb quickly transported Doyle to Albemarle Hospital where officials indicated he may have suffered second-degree burns, Lamb said. Doyle was later transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital's burn unit, she said. An update on his condition was not available Tuesday afternoon.

According to the National Fire Protection Association's Web site, an arc-flash is an electric current that passes through the air when insulation between electrified conductors is no longer sufficient to withstand the applied voltage.

Each year more than 2,000 people are treated for burns from arc-flash incidents, the Web site states.

Lamb, who considers herself a friend of Doyle's, said she's concerned that his hands and eyes may have suffered serious damage in the incident. She said he likely won't be able to work as he recovers.

"I'm just thankful he's alive because when it happened, I wasn't sure if he was going to be alive," she said.

Another electrician finished the work at the KFC and ruled the area safe, allowing the restaurant to reopen at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lamb said.

Doyle works for J&J Renewable Energy in Ahoskie, which performs heating, refrigeration, cooling and electrical work for the Bojangles and KFC restaurants in Plymouth, Williamston and Elizabeth City, she said.