Three construction workers were injured Wednesday afternoon after a sudden explosion at a job site along the 3500 block of South Kanner Highway in Stuart, Martin County Fire Rescue confirmed.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m., when crews responded to reports of a blast inside a building still under construction. Upon arrival, firefighters found three male workers suffering from burn-related injuries.
Preliminary findings indicate the explosion was caused by a vapor flash that occurred while workers were attempting to relight pilot lights inside the structure. Later that evening, investigators determined that the ignition was triggered by a malfunctioning piece of equipment inside a stove.
According to officials, the gas system had been pressure tested earlier in the day and successfully passed inspection. However, once the pilot light was relit, a malfunction caused a sudden and intense flame release, resulting in injuries to those nearby.
Two of the workers sustained serious burns and were airlifted to a regional burn center for advanced medical care. The third injured individual was transported to HCA Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where they were also listed in serious condition.
Martin County Fire Rescue confirmed that the Florida State Fire Marshal has joined the investigation to determine whether equipment failure, installation error, or other factors may have contributed to the incident.
The blast temporarily halted construction operations at the site, and safety inspectors are expected to review all gas appliance installations before work resumes.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the injured workers, and no further updates on their conditions were immediately available.
Originally reported by Malcolm Shields, Digital Content Producer in ABC 25 WPBF News.
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