Sport Chalet identifies employees burned in gas explosion at La Cañada store

Sport Chalet and the American Red Cross will host a blood drive that will support the two employees who were injured on March 1 during an explosion at the sporting goods store in La Cañada Flintridge.

Victor Gonzalez, 25, and Lauren Polzin, 27, were severely burned after, according to fire officials, they were asked to shut off a gas valve when someone reporting smelling gas. The incident occurred in the pool area of the store at about 9:59 a.m.

The explosion caused an estimated $10,000 in damage, officials said.

The blood drive – announced in a statement issued Friday -- will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, at the corporate offices of Sport Chalet, which are located next to the store on One Sport Chalet Drive in La Cañada.

The sporting goods chain has also established funds for both Gonzalez and Polzin at: www.giveforward.com/Victor and www.giveforward.com/Lauren.

Gift cards from restaurants, grocery stores and other shops can also be sent to Sport Chalet’s corporate offices. They will be donated to the employees’ families, the company said.

-- Tiffany Kelly, Times Community News

Follow Tiffany Kelly on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly