Extinguished Pilot Light Ignited Blast that Injured MA Firefighters During Training

Officials wrapped up their investigation into an explosion at a fire training event in South Hadley that injured three firefighters.

The firefighters were using the Department of Fire Services' Mobile Live Fire Training Unit when the incident happened in last October.

Investigators determined that a pilot light was unintentionally extinguished during a training evolution, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey told MassLive.com.

That allowed gas to build up and when a stove was lit, it flashed on the firefighters.

One firefighter suffered burns to the face. The other two suffered minor injuries and a concussion.

"It was a close call for everybody," South Hadley Fire Chief Robert Authier said at the time. "It could have been body bags."