2 Injured in Rocketdyne Blast

A research chemist from Woodland Hills was severely injured this morning in an explosion at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park that heavily damaged the rocket-fuel lab where he was working. A second victim was treated for minor burns, and about 200 employees were evacuated for about two hours while fumes were cleared from the aerospace facility.

According to company officials, Dr. Ross Wagner, 59, was working in his lab at 6633 Canoga Ave. when a small quantity of compound used for rocket fuel apparently exploded at 7:28 a.m. for undetermined reasons. Wagner, who suffered severe burns of the head, face, hands and lower arms, was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in critical condition and moved later to the Sherman Oaks Burn Center.