2 Roofers Critically Hurt in Asphalt Explosion

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA - Two roofers were critically injured Monday in an explosion involving a tank of asphalt at an industrial location in Santa Fe Springs.

The blast in the 13600 block of Orden Drive was reported about 6:30 a.m., the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department reported.

The explosion involved a tank of asphalt on a flatbed trailer that was being heated prior to being used in a roofing job at the commercial building. The tank was carrying about 4,000 gallons of the tar-like material that is used in roofing jobs, the fire department reported. There were propane tanks on the trailer, as well.

The workers were in the process of heating asphalt to a temperature of 500 degrees in the large tank, ABC7 reported.

Santa Fe Springs fire Division Chief Brent Hayward told Channel 7 that the injured men were standing on a platform near the tank when the explosion occurred.

"We're still trying to determine what kind of an explosion it was at this time -- (whether) it was a propane explosion or an asphalt vapor explosion," Hayward said.

The injured men were found lying on the ground about 15 feet away, with one of them suffering third-degree burns over 40-60 percent of his body, including molten asphalt covering his face, ABC7 reported.

"He was conscious (but) he wasn't talking to us at the time," Hayward said.

The other roofer suffered second-degree burns. Both were taken to UCI Medical Center.

The victims' co-workers were "devastated," Hayward said.

"These guys work together a lot," he said. "Much like (in) the fire service, they all know each other. They all know their families, I'm sure. And it's an emotional event, to see something like this happen. We don't see this every day."

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock