MAN WHO MAY HAVE SPARKED FIRE DIES.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

A 47-year-old Encino man who was critically burned in an Encino apartment explosion died Sunday morning of his injuries, a spokeswoman for the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks said.

Dennis Cohen told authorities he may have sparked the explosion when he lit a cigarette in his bathroom after disconnecting a gas line from a stove he was repairing.

The explosion occurred about 11 a.m. Friday on the second floor of the 140-unit Park Encino Apartments complex, located at 5325 Newcastle Ave.

Soon after describing the blast to authorities, Cohen lost consciousness and was in a coma when he arrived at the burn center, said Lysa Barry, spokeswoman for the burn center.

Cohen was in critical condition, with second and third degree burns over 60 percent of his body, hospital officials said. He died Sunday about 11:15 a.m., Barry said.

Cohen's doctor, Dr. Peter Grossman, released the following statement Sunday: ``Despite all efforts, (Cohen) has passed as a result of burn shock and sepsis.''

Cohen, who was unmarried and had no children, was scheduled to have surgery today, Barry said.

The blast left roughly 300 residents of the apartment building homeless. Three people suffered minor injuries and a firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, officials said.