A side-by-side caught fire Sunday afternoon in Wirt County which injured two males who were taken to the hospital for treatment. (Photo Provided)

ELIZABETH — Two males were injured after a side-by-side caught fire Sunday afternoon.

According to Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department chief Steven Settle, the call came in at 12:15 p.m. stating two were injured due to a side-by-side accident.

A group of people were riding together on their side-by-sides when one of them starting leaking fuel and before the two men could get out, it blew up, Settle said.

“They jumped out of it but they had been burnt already. Both had facial burns and burns to their hands,” he said.

The two were taken to the hospital and Settle believes it’s possible they could have sustained second degree burns.

About two acres of land caught fire in connection with a side-by-side fire that occurred Sunday afternoon. Two males were taken to the hospital with possible second degree burns on their faces and hands. (Photo Provided)

After speaking with the victims, Settle said the driver noticed fuel was leaking and was able to get the vehicle stopped before it burst into flames.

One of the two fellow riders took the two injured men to the community building in Spring Valley.

When the fire department responded at the scene, the vehicle was still on fire along with about two acres of land.

“We were able to get the upper hand on it pretty quickly,” Settle said.

Three trucks from the Elizabeth VFD responded along with Wirt County EMS and the Wirt County Sheriff’s Department.

The Division of Forestry was contacted but were unable to come to the scene at the time due to other fire calls in the region, Settle said.

“They have been notified and will do an investigation,” he said.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.