Grill Explosion at D300 Event Sends 3 to Hospital

ALGONQUIN, IL — Multiple people were treated at the scene and three were taken to the hospital after a propane grill exploded at a District 300 employee recognition event Thursday afternoon, fire officials said. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District was called to the event held outside administrative offices at a maintenance area at 2605 Bunker Hill Drive at about 12:40 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from fire protection district. School district employees had extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.

The three people taken to the hospital were expected to receive treatment for burns and injuries that are not considered life-threatening, fire officials said.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by grease that overflowed from a grill drip pan and melted the propane gas lines that were connected to the propane gas tanks, Knebl told Patch. He said there were several grills being used and the people injured were in close proximity the grills when the explosion occurred.

Knebl said he's unsure how many were in attendance at the District 300 employee recognition event.