ALLEGANY, N.Y. — A 23-year-old Allegany man was electrocuted in his home Monday night while using a dangerous wood-burning process called fractal burning.
Thomas Moran, 23, an electrician for the City of Olean, was making gifts at his home using the high-voltage, fractal wood burning process when the accident occurred, Cattaraugus County Coroner Bradley M. Spink said.
The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death, Spink added, noting that their investigation was ongoing.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office could not be reached for comment Thursday.
“It’s very dangerous,” Spink said of the artistic process that can burn lightning-like patterns on wood by passing a high-voltage charge between two metal electrodes in contact with the wood.
The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) reports more than 35 people have died using what it called the dangerous fractal burning process. The group has banned the process at its events and refuses to publish articles on using a fractal burner.
Those who have died while using the process have ranged from hobbyists to experienced electricians, according to AAW.
“It only takes one small mistake and you are dead; not injured, dead,” a June 2022 article by the AAW’s Safety Committee states. “Some of those who died were experienced at using the process and some were not. What is common to all of them: fractal burning killed them.”
Rick Baker, AAW Safety Committee chairman, said those who died from fractal burning included those who used homemade fractal devices or ones that were manufactured.
“There are many ways to express your creativity,” Baker said. “Do not use fractal burning. If you have a fractal burner, throw it away. If you are looking into fractal burning, stop right now and move on to something else. This could save your life.”
Thomas was a 2018 graduate of Allegany-Limestone High School and a 2020 graduate of Alfred State College, where he earned an associate’s degree in electrical construction, according to his obituary. After working in Rochester, he returned to Allegany last year where he for a job with the City of Olean as an electrician in the Public Works Department.
Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Guenther Funeral Home, Olean. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Bonaventure Church.
