Worker severely burned in gas explosion at former Tuxedo Motorsports building in Sloatsburg
Officials say the explosion happened inside a business Wednesday morning on Old Route 17 along the Orange-Rockland county line.
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A man remains hospitalized with severe burns after what officials say was a natural gas explosion inside a business at the former Tuxedo Motorsports building Wednesday morning.
The explosion happened around 10:30 a.m. at the building on Old Route 17, along the Orange-Rockland county line. It triggered a massive fire and response from multiple fire departments and emergency agencies.
“He was very badly burned. Very badly burned. We had to take him out on a medevac,” Tuxedo Fire Chief John Bower told News 12.
The injured worker was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center. Firefighters say everyone else inside the mixed-use building made it out safely before crews arrived.
“It looks like there was an initial explosion earlier and luckily we were able to get lines on it very quickly and knock that fire down,” Bower said. “Then it proceeded into the roof.”
The fire heavily damaged the building, blowing out windows and sending thick smoke into the air as crews worked to bring the flames under control.
Ramapo police say the fire is not believed to be suspicious, but the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Route 17 was closed for several hours before reopening Wednesday afternoon.
