Minor-league games postponed after locker room gas explosion reportedly burns 2 people
A minor-league game in Lake Elsinore, California was postponed Friday after a gas explosion in the home team's locker room burned two people, according to KCAL.
The incident reportedly occurred at 4:20 p.m. PT, hours before a game between the Lake Elsinore Storm, the San Diego Padres' Single-A affiliate, and the Inland Empire 66ers, a Los Angeles Angels affiliate, was scheduled at the Lake Elsinore Diamond.
The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed, but reports from the scene indicate that a natural gas line burst inside the home team's clubhouse. Two people, neither of them players, were left with burns described as moderate injuries and airlifted to a local hospital.
The stadium was evacuated after the incident, and the Storm announced that both Friday's and Saturday's games would be postponed.
Due to an incident at the stadium, today and tomorrow’s game will be postponed until further notice. https://t.co/FEwlDiHGY7
— Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball (@Storm_Baseball) May 20, 2023
The Storm initially released a statement disclosing only that "an accident" had occurred in their home clubhouse and that two contracted workers were injured, without confirming the incident to be a gas explosion.
The team followed with another statement a day later explaining that "an unfortunate accident" had occurred and offering more details:
While contractors were installing new equipment in the team facility, there was an unfortunate accident related to the work being done. The contractors assigned to the installation sustained injuries, and we are keeping them in our thoughts at this time
Thanks due in part to the fire safety systems, efficient work of Storm staff, and timeliness of Cal Fire, the players and staff sustained no injuries and the damages were isolated to a very small area within the new building. Cal Fire finished their investigation quickly and the City of Lake Elsinore has been out to asses the damages and to ensure that the area is safe.
Per the statement, the Storm-66ers game scheduled for Sunday is expected to proceed as scheduled.
