Four individuals sustained injuries, two seriously, after an explosion at a Bellingham gas station, emergency crews reported Friday night. The incident, which occurred at the SavMore Gas Station located at 220 South Main Street, prompted a rapid response from the Bellingham Police and Fire Departments shortly after 6:00 p.m. According to a joint statement by Bellingham Police Chief Kenneth Fitzgerald and Fire Chief William Miller, a contracting company was working on maintenance at the time of the explosion, WHDH reports.
Upon arrival, fire crews discovered four contractors with burn injuries, of which two were severely wounded, The responding agencies swiftly transported the injured parties to the burn unit at Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. Details surrounding the incident have, not been fully disclosed, but the blast is under investigation by local police, fire authorities, and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's office, Boston 25 News confirmed.
Early indications from fire officials suggest the explosion was a "flash fire" that extinguished itself quickly after the incident. Nonetheless, the gas station is expected to undergo a thorough compliance testing process to prevent such occurrences in the future. As to the identities of the injured workers, officials have decided not to release their names at this time, and no further information regarding their current condition has been provided.
The Bellingham Police Department and Massachusetts Fire Marshal Jon Davine's team are actively examining the cause of the blast in conjunction with the Bellingham Fire Department. As part of the ongoing investigation, officials will be scrutinizing the circumstances leading up to the event and any potential safety violations that might have contributed. The explosion has raised questions about safety practices at such facilities, and the outcomes of this inquiry may lead to actionable insights, to improve worker and public safety, NBC Boston mentions.
