Boiler room explosion at Philadelphia school, 1 injured

WEST OAK LANE (WPVI) -- A West Oak lane elementary school will be closed for the next two days following an explosion that critically injured a maintenance worker.

It happened at the Franklin S. Edmonds School in the 8200 block of Thouron Avenue just before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Officials say a 61-year-old man was working on the boiler when it exploded, leaving him with burns on the lower half of his body.

He was rushed to Einstein Medical Center in critical condition.

The explosion was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the boiler room of the Franklin Edmonds School in the 8200 block of Thouron Avenue.

One parent, who was inside the school for an awards ceremony, told Action News nobody had any idea what was happening when they heard the blast echo through the building.

All 480 students were evacuated as a precaution before being released early, but no children were hurt.

Officials say, though the school is safe to return to, they cancelled class until heat can be restored to the building.