Two people have died and several others are reportedly injured following a steam pipe explosion at a West Haven, Connecticut veteran's hospital Friday morning.
First responders received a report of an explosion in the area of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 950 Campbell Avenue with the focus on building 22, the New Haven Register reports. The building is labeled as the hospital's administrative building, according to its official website.
Connecticut State Police confirmed to the New Haven Register that detectives from its Fire and Explosion Unit are on the scene assisting the West Haven Fire Department's investigators and fire marshals with the explosion.
Federal investigators also responded to the explosion, Brian Foley, a top aide to state Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella, confirmed in a text message to the Associated Press.
VA Secretary Robert Wilkie confirmed neither of the victims killed in the explosion were patients or employees at the facility.
“We received a report this morning that an explosion occurred at the West Haven campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System that resulted in two deaths in a non-patient care area,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.
“Neither of the victims were VA patients and patient care was not affected. Emergency personnel are on the scene,” the statement said. “Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this explosion.”
The deaths occurred in the maintenance area, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to release information.
WTNH reporter Kent Pierce was at the scene after the explosion and reported smoke could be seen in the air.
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