WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Five people were injured, with one being transported in critical condition, following an electrical explosion in West Valley City Saturday morning.
West Valley City Fire tells FOX 13 News that the explosion happened around 9:15 a.m. as a contracted electric company was working on a transformer outside of a building located near 4800 West 2400 South.
"What’s called a flash explosion and an electrical flash, and they’ve been noted to be thousands of degrees. It’s just a quick flash and then out and there’s no burning, there’s no nothing other than that quick burst of heat and energy,” said Nick Dodge, Battalion Chief West Valley City Fire Department.
There were reports of a flash, indicating an electrical explosion. However, there was no fire caused by the explosion by the time emergency crews arrived on-scene. The five people injured were all working on the transformer at the time.
West Valley City Fire got the call around 9:15 a.m. and got to the scene seven to eight minutes later. "We quickly triaged on the five patients that we had and we are able to determine that one had some critical burns two were what we would call to good condition and two retreated in and left at the scene,” said Dodge.
One person was transported in critical condition to University of Utah Health's Burn Center. Two others were transported to local hospitals in fair condition, while the remaining two were treated and released at the scene.
The employees injured were contracted to work on electrical repairs. "If you could picture, you know those green transformer type things that you see along the street or in your in your neighborhood just bigger type electrical wiring,” said Dodge.
West Valley City Fire asks for caution anytime people are doing electrical work.
"Based off experience in my own home, just double, triple check that the electricity is turned off. And if you have any doubt, hire someone who knows what they're doing and do your best to prevent incidents like this," said Dodge.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the incident.
