Two dead reported in steam explosion at VA hospital in CT

[Dennis Donovan]

https://apnews.com/article/us-news-connecticut-fires-veterans-veterans-affairs-75a95285d7af5367edf87d8f20e5ca74

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — There have been serious injuries in an explosion at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Connecticut, an official said Friday.

State and federal investigators are responding to the VA Medical Center in West Haven, Brian Foley, a top aide to state Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella, said in a text message to The Associated Press. He cited “an explosion type incident” with “serious injuries.

The television station WTNH reported that smoke could be seen rising from the building.

State police earlier said they were assisting with an investigation of an explosion at the VA building in West Haven at the request of the city’s fire marshal.

State police said they were sending three detectives from their fire and explosion investigation unit.

-/snip-

Link to tweet

Marissa Alter @MarissaAlter

BREAKING: explosion in West Haven was a steam explosion at the maintenance facility at the VA campus—a separate building from the hospital. I’m told work was being done there at the time of it. @News12CT

Marissa Alter @MarissaAlter

BREAKING: explosion at the VA hospital in West Haven. A law source at the scene tells me two people are dead and the FBI is headed there. They will be the investigating agency. We are on our way there now. @News12CT

9:55 AM · Nov 13, 2020

[MANative]

1. Local news is reporting...

A steam pipe explosion and two fatalities, one contractor and one "civilian." On the campus, but not in the hospital.

Radio, no link available

[RAB910]

6. I have never seen or heard of a steam PIPE exploding

I have heard of boilers exploding though

[MANative]

7. Agree that this sounds odd, but...

heard the same phrasing from three different sources. Doesn't mean it's correct, of course.

Just turned on local NBC channel and they're saying the same thing. Added that a third person is missing.

[Hotler]

8. Unsafe gas line repair or safety valve faulty (or wired shut), cold water introduced to a hot boiler

will cause a steam flash and blow the back off or send the boiler to the parking lot. I'm sure OSHA is all over this. A lot of safety rules when working on boilers and pressure vessels.

[Jirel]

2. Your link doesn't go to the story.

Here’s one that does, that should be updated.

https://www.wtnh.com/news/breaking-news/west-haven-pd-responding-to-incident-at-va-hospital/

[Dennis Donovan]

3. I just tested my link to the AP and it works

[Jirel]

4. The first one posted didn't. Your updated one does.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. That's why I fixed it