(NECN: Kathryn Sotnik, Woburn, Mass.) – Two people were rushed to the hospital following an explosion at an industrial park in Woburn, Mass. It happened inside a building on Wildwood Avenue, which is just south of Interstate 95.
The explosion happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. at a business called "Powderpart," according to Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo, Jr.
The industrial park is located off of Wildwood Ave.
Captain Tim Ring of the Woburn Fire Dept. said, "He was conscious the entire time, the EMTS that were working on him and the paramedics, he was conscious the whole time and able to converse with them."
Barry Ryan lives nearby and was at the scene.
"Something went bad, something blew up and he was burned; they said he was awake, alive but pretty badly burned," said Ryan.
A second victim, a man, who police say tried to help the first victim, was taken to Leahy hospital for precautionary reasons, according to police.
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Shortly after the explosion, investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, were at the scene.
From the air, smoke could also be seen emanating from the small fire following the explosion.
An online profile describing Powderpart is not complete, but it describes the company as manufacturing lasers and also doing work for aerospace.
Chief Ferrullo says the worker was in a garage at the time and may have sucked a chemical into a vacuum when it blew up.
"They have some industrial flammable metals inside. We're not 100-percent sure; it's under investigation right now," said Captain Ring.
He also said it's "too early" to tell if the burns to the first worker are life-threatening, but he did say the victim had burns to about 90-percent of his body.
