Doors Blown Off Fish Barn in an Explosion at Essex Tech High School; One Man Suffered Burns

Firefighters from Danvers and Middleton responded to reports of a gas pipe explosion about 2:30 Wednesday afternoon inside the fish barn building located in the rear of the property at the Essex Agricultural and and Technical High School (former Essex Aggie) on Maple Street.\, according to authorities.

An explosion occurred as a construction worker contracted to do work for the school was bleeding a gas line, according to Danvers Fire Chief Kevin p. Farrell. The gas ignited and caused a flash fire and explosion that blew a couple of doors off the building and injured the worker, according to the fire chief. The man suffered first and second-degree burns to his face, neck and arms, according to Chief Farrell. He was transported to an area hospital.

No students or staff were in the fish barn at the time of the explosion, according to Chief Farrell. About 30 school busses were lined up waiting for students to be dismissed around the same time, according to reports.

The fish barn building is the aquatic lab where students learn about fish and aquarium care. The main high school building was not damaged.

Fire officials requested a state building inspector, Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector and National Grid.

Alarms at the building, as well as 911 calls, alerted the Danvers Fire Department, according to reports.

The incident remains under investigation.