Man: Sunscreen caused me to catch fire

STOW, Mass., (WPRI) - A federal investigation is underway into the possible dangers of spray-on sunscreen.

Brett Sigworth of Stow, Massachusetts says he applied Banana Boat sunscreen while standing in front of his barbecue grill and became engulfed in flames.

"Sprayed on the spray on sunscreen, then rubbed it on for a few seconds. Then, I walked over to my grill and took one of the holders to move some of the charcoal briquettes around and all of a sudden it just when up my arm,"  said Sigworth.

Sigworth said the Banana Boat Sport aerosol sunscreen caught fire, not in the can, but all over his body.

"Just the way it burned, it went wherever the sunblock went. That's where it burned."

The Food and Drug Administration is now investigating Sigworth's claims.  

In a statement the FDA said, "It is possible for sunscreen to be flammable once it's applied to the skin because some sunscreen products are alcohol-based."

Banana Boat released a statement saying:

"We will begin a prompt investigation as we continue to strive to deliver products of the highest quality of our consumers."  

There's a warning on the sunscreen bottle that says flammable, don't use near heat, flame or while burning. But, it says nothing about once it's applied.

"No warning that says this product's flammable when applied to your skin or for some period of time after being on your skin."

Banana Boat says it is unaware of any incidents like this happening before.