Two maintenance workers were seriously injured during a flash fire at a Dunkin' location in Newburyport, Massachusetts. According to Boston 25 News, the incident occurred just before 10 a.m. while the workers were repairing an HVAC unit on the roof. The fire was caused by the ignition of Freon in the building’s air compressor system.
Deputy Fire Chief Salt stated that the fire started when a fitting failed as the workers attempted to connect equipment to test the gas. NBC Boston reported that the fire began around 9:52 a.m. Initially, an electrical short was suspected, but officials later determined that an arc likely ignited the Freon. One worker sustained second-degree burns to the face, chest, and hands, while the other suffered third-degree burns to the lower body.
Emergency responders arrived at 167 State Street to find the fire already extinguished. Both workers were taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Dunkin' building was not damaged.
The Newburyport Fire and Police Departments, the Newburyport Electrical Inspector, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were notified and responded to the scene. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is working with the Newburyport Fire Department to investigate the cause of the incident.
