Explosion in Ayer business injures four people

AYER, Mass. — Fire marshals confirmed an explosion was reported in a business in Ayer on Friday afternoon.

The explosion happened at Advanced Vacuum Systems, an industrial furnace company. The initial investigation points to pressure vessel failure as the cause of the explosion.

According to the Ayer Fire Chief Robert Pedrazzi, the three employees inside were working on a furnace at the time of the explosion.

"When the explosion occurred, it blew whatever was on fire, it blew up the corners of the building, so we had fires around the roof line," said Pedrazzi.

Two people were injured, one sustaining life-threatening injuries which required he be airlifted to a local hospital.

Two firefighters, one from Littleton and the other from Devens, were also injured while rescuing the employees and putting out flames.

"One firefighter had chest pains and the other firefighter picked up a charged electrical line," said Pedrazzi.

Jess Callahan and Becky Brennan, managers at Tiny's Restaurant, down the street from Advanced Vacuum Systems, felt the ground shake and smelled the smoke.

"We were just carrying on business as usual and all of a sudden we heard a loud explosion, and I wasn't quite sure what it was at first until we saw all the fire trucks and police and ambulances rushing down there," said Brennan.

No more details were released about the victim with the more severe injuries.

Both firefighters are expected to be okay.

An investigation into the explosion is ongoing.

Cox Media Group