Small explosion at Malcolm school injures two

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

This was the scene outside Westfall Elementary in Malcolm Monday morning.

Construction crews were working on an addition at the school when a generator inside a tractor trailer exploded.

"There was gasoline fumes inside the truck and there was a spark from a possible generator inside the truck that created the ignition," said Malcolm Fire Chief Jim Densberger. 

The explosion sparked a small fire, which was quickly put out by fire crews.

two workers had to be rushed to CHI Health St. Elizabeth’s in Lincoln with second degree burns.

"We had one patient with close to 70 percent burns on his body. The other one has burns on his hands and his face," Chief Densberger said. 

Officials say both of the mens injuries are non–life threatening and they are expected to be OK.

The school was not damaged by the explosion and no staff or students were in the building when the accident occurred.

"It was inside a truck, there was nothing inside the school that actually exploded," said Chief Densberger. 

Malcolm Fire and Rescue responded to reports of a small explosion and fire around 9:15 this morning. 

It happened at Westfall Elementary School near 112th Street and Malcolm Road in Malcolm.

Malcolm Fire Chief Jim Densberger said contractors were working on the schools addition and had a generator running inside a truck that was left running. Gas fumes built up inside the truck, then there was a spark, which created a small explosion and fire in the truck.

Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire, but two workers had to be transported to St. Elizabeth’s in Lincoln.

Chief Densberger said both men have second degree burns and one of the men had burns on seventy percent of his body. Both men are expected to be OK. 

There were no children inside the school when the explosion happened.

Lancaster County Sheriff and the State Fire Marshall are still investigating.