AYER, Mass. -- An explosion Friday evening at an Ayer commercial building has turned fatal.
Two employees were taken to the hospital following the explosion, which occurred around 5:20 p.m. at Advanced Vacuum Systems' building on Fitchburg Road. One of those employees, a man in his 50s, died of his injuries at the hospital, the Middlesex district attorney's office said in a statement.
The condition of the second employee was not immediately available. Two mutual aid firefighters also sustained minor injuries.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation but preliminary findings suggest it was the result of a pressure vessel malfunction, according to the state fire marshal. Advanced Vaccum Systems makes specialty furnace equipment.
The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration is conducting a separate investigation.
AYER (CBS) – Two workers were hurt in an explosion and fire at an industrial building in Ayer Friday afternoon.
One worker was seriously injured and taken to the hospital by MedFlight. Another worker was not as severely hurt.
The explosion occurred at Advanced Vacuum Systems on Fitchburg Road, a company that makes specialty furnace equipment.
Damage from explosion at AVS in Ayer (WBZ-TV)
According to the State Fire Marshal, a preliminary investigation points to a failure of a pressure seal as the cause of the explosion.
The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration is conducting a separate investigation.