Fast- food horror

Restaurant Associates Limited (RAL) has faulted IGL, its gas supplier, for yesterday’s early morning blast, which left six of its workers nursing burn injuries at its New Kingston Burger King fast-food outlet.

Up to last night, The Gleaner was told that two of the workers who suffered serious injuries were still being treated at hospital. However, the extent of their injuries was not available.

The company, however, stated in a release that the supplier had delivered gas at the location yesterday morning but returned after an employee reported a strong odour of gas, which had been subsequently reported to the service provider.

“The restaurant was promptly closed to follow the proper protocol, and the service provider returned to the site to address the issue. Before leaving the location, the supplier confirmed it was safe to proceed with business. Shortly thereafter, there was an explosion,” RAL said in its release.

Investigation concluded

Superintendent Stewart Beckford, commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), confirmed yesterday that an investigation has concluded that the explosion was as a result of a gas leak.

“The gas would have leaked and found its way into the building at the level of the first floor, and so there was a build-up of gas in that environment, and there was the introduction of open flame, meaning they would have either lit an oven or cooker or even flipped a light switch, which would have triggered the explosion,” he said.

Beckford further shared that the assessment was based on information received from persons on the ground as well as IGL, which had changed a defective valve from a gas cylinder at the premises earlier that morning and would have given the workers the go-ahead to resume operations.

He said that a team from IGL was present at the scene when he visited in the afternoon and is aware of the results of the investigation.

The Gleaner, however, was unsuccessful in receiving a response to questions that were sent to the company via its public relations personnel.

Beckford further shared that along with six employees who were rushed to the hospital, three employees from nearby fast-food outlet Island Grill and another from Pizza Hut were affected by noxious fumes that had spread from the Burger King location.

“They were overcome by noxious fumes. A few of them fainted and had dizzy spells,” he said.

Some employees from the fast-food outlets were observed being taken for treatment in an ambulance, which had been summoned to the location.

According to the commissioner, persons occupying the buildings in the proximity of Burger King were told to evacuate as a result of the fumes.

JFB Senior Superintendent Patrick Gooden reported earlier that the brigade responded to a call at 10:36 a.m. that the building at 61 Knutsford Boulevard was on fire and found out that six employees with injuries had been transported to the Kingston Public Hospital.

“Observation revealed that extensive damage has been done to the building as a result of the explosion,” he said.

When The Gleaner arrived at the location, scores of employees from business places on both sides of the roadway in the business district looked on with curiosity as firemen worked tirelessly to secure the affected building and ensure safety for all.

A swarm of policemen and women were also observed on the scene, coupled with firemen who arrived on two fire units from the York Park Fire Station. Personnel from the Ministry of Health and Wellness were also seen.

A former Burger King employee, who had rushed to the scene after hearing the dreadful news, broke down in tears and was overcome by emotion.

However, while she prayed for the well-being of her former colleagues, she counted her blessings that she was not there at the time of the incident and was not among the injured.

The former employee, identified as Nickia, who said she resigned just three months ago, said, “Mi tell dem say mi did a come look fi dem Saturday and bring Malta fi dem.”

She added: “If me did deh deh, mi would get injured. To that why sometimes yuh nuh fi question God.”

Meanwhile, a good Samaritan, Paul Brown, who escaped injuries during the blast, said at least two of the injured workers appeared to have suffered serious injuries.

According to the vendor, who sells his wares next to the fast-food outlet, the manager appeared to have suffered the most severe injury.

“She burn really badly. You can literally see har skin a drop off,” he said.

He said he also assisted a male worker whose skin was also falling off his hands and another female whose hair was burnt off.

“Dem did a cry and bawl,” he said.

Brown said the explosion was like an earthquake and that it was marijuana that saved him as he had entered the restaurant with a spliff and was in the process of retreating to out it when the explosion occurred.

Brown said he had just stepped inside the restaurant when the explosion happened and its impact pushed him outside.

While giving thanks that he was spared, Brown said he was also happy that only a handful of customers were inside as the situation would have been different if it had occurred during the lunch period when most customers are present.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com