WPRO Newsroom and the Associated Press

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) – Westerly authorities say a man who was badly burned in a kitchen fire last weekend may have been cooking with marijuana.

Officials told The Westerly Sun that James Chapman may have been cooking an element of marijuana with oil or butter on Saturday when a fire broke out on the stove.

Chapman reportedly suffered second- and third-degree burns on more than half his body while trying to extinguish the fire, which caused major damage to the house.

Officials say Chapman is in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital. His wife and adult son escaped unharmed.

Authorities told the Sun that an occupant of the house is licensed to dispense medical marijuana. Police were seen removing what appeared to be marijuana plants from the home after the fire.