A lit space heater sparked the explosion that injured three workers after a hose from a propane tank leaked and filled a vault in South Jordan on Friday.
The three men who work for a private contractor were painting a large underground water line for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District when the explosion happened near 7000 West and the Old Bingham Highway, South Jordan Fire Capt. Nathan Morreale said.
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"One person was in the vault at the time, just getting ready to start," he said.
That man suffered burns on his hands, feet and face. He was flown by helicopter to the University of Utah’s Burn Center, where he last was reported in critical condition. The second man was taken to Intermountain Medical Center and treated for bumps, cuts and bruises.
The third man, who was treated at the scene, told firefighters what unfolded.
The men began working on the project Wednesday and had a hose connected from a large propane tank above ground to a heater down below in the vault, Morreale said.
The heater, which the men were using to keep themselves warm, remained on after they left the project for the day, Morreale said, adding he wasn’t sure whether this was standard practice or not.
When the men returned to work Thursday afternoon, they noticed the heater was no longer lit, but propane still flowed to it. The workers noticed propane had filled the vault, which is more than 6 feet deep.
"At that time, they turned the propane tank off ... and stopped the project Thursday afternoon," Morreale said.
On Friday, just before 10 a.m., the men returned to the site to continue the project. Morreale said the men got a new heater and hose and brought it down into the vault. They lit the new heater and that is when the explosion occurred.
"For the explosion that took place, there was a substantial amount of propane in the vault," Morreale said.
Witnesses reported the explosion blew dirt and rocks, along with the vault cover, into the air. The investigation into the explosion is still ongoing by the South Jordan Fire Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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