Local News in Brief : Blast Injures 3 at Firm
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An explosion during a test of movie pyrotechnics at a Burbank company Tuesday injured two workers and the firm’s owner, fire officials said.
“They were mixing a special effect and got two chemicals that didn’t mate together real well and they created a hostile environment,” said Burbank Fire Chief Ken Whittekind.
The owner of Tri-Ess Sciences, Ira Kazz, 72, was in stable condition at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank. Two employees, whose names were not released, were airlifted to County-USC Medical Center with abdominal wounds. One was listed in critical condition; the other was in serious condition.
The business’ 25 employees were evacuated from the building and the sheriff’s bomb squad was dispatched to investigate the cause of the explosion, Whittekind said.
Kimberly Katz, the company’s vice president, said this was the first time the testing of a screen pyrotechnic device has triggered an explosion at the manufacturing firm. Whittekind estimated damage from shattered glass and broken furniture at less than $500.
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