FREDONIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Two employees were injured after an explosion at the McDonald's located at 500 East Main Street in Fredonia.
The incident occurred just after 10 p.m. on Sunday. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office said an employee pulled a grill out to clean behind it, and when they did, the natural gas line was disconnected. Another grill ignited and caused the explosion.
7 News spoke with Fredonia's Fire Chief, who said the restaurant's safety system stopped things from being a lot worse.
"It does have the proper components to mitigate a hazard, which it did," Chief Josh Myers said. "There was some type of vent; an investigation will tell us what that was. The sprinkler system did its job and put the fire out. The fire was out when we arrived and made entry into the structure. We just ensured that we secured all the utilities, and our primary focus shifted to patient care to make sure everyone was taken care of adequately."
WATCH: Two employees injured after explosion at McDonald's in Fredonia
A female employee was flown to a hospital in Buffalo for treatment, another female employee was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and a male employee was evaluated at the scene.
Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said he was told that neither of the workers suffered burn wounds and that the female worker may have suffered a concussion when the blast of the flash fire knocked her down.
"It could have been a lot worse than what it was,"Ferguson told 7 News, "but we're thankful for the speed of our police force and our fire department to respond to that."
7 News was told the restaurant will be closed until at least later today.
The fire has been ruled accidental in nature.
