La Canada, CA – At least two people were seriously injured in a natural gas explosion at a Sport Chalet in La Canada on Friday.
The explosion happened just before 10 a.m. at the store at 2 Sport Chalet Drive, in the La Canada Flintridge Town Center.
The location is near the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard.
The two injured people, both employees of the store, were reportedly sent into a utility room to turn off the gas after a contractor said there was a smell coming from the room.
The utility room contained chlorine and acid used to maintain the store’s swimming pool which is used for diving lessons.
The employees went into the utility room and they shut the gas down, but as they were leaving the gas flashed on them, said Greg Hisel of L.A. County Fire.
The employees, identified as a 27-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, sustained second to third degree burns over 50 to 80-percent of their bodies.
Both victims were transported in serious condition to Huntington Memorial in Pasadena.
A hazardous-materials team was sent to the scene.
Investigators have not determined whether the explosion was accidental.