5 Workers Burned in Flash Fire at Pasadena Renovation Site
Five workers were burned, two seriously, in an explosion and flash fire Monday at a Pasadena building undergoing renovation, authorities said.
The two most seriously injured were in critical condition, suffering from second- and third-degree burns. One man had burns over 80% of his body, said a spokesman at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital, where both were being treated at the burn center. Their names were withheld pending notification of their families.
The three others were released from other hospitals after being treated for minor injuries.
The men were hurt when a torch cut through a hydraulic line, triggering an explosion inside the old Police Department administration building at 142 N. Arroyo Parkway, said Police Lt. Jack Robertson.
The men were working on the fourth floor of the building, which had been vacated because of earthquake safety concerns.
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