Compressor explosion injures five

SHELTON, Wash. — An air compressor explosion at a Simpson Timber Co. sawmill blew out a wall and injured five people Wednesday morning, a company spokeswoman said.

All five were initially taken to Mason General Hospital in Shelton, hospital spokeswoman Shelly Dunnington said.

One was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region’s only major trauma center, said a police dispatcher, and two more transferred later.

Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson said Terry Harkins, 55, had burns over 16 percent of his body — on his hands, arms, face and one leg — and was in serious condition in intensive care.

Marvin Butts, 48, was in satisfactory condition with burns over 7 percent of his body — on his forearms, face, ears and part of his hands — Gregg-Hanson said.

The only information Harborview had about the third worker, identified as Jerry Munro, was that he was in satisfactory condition, Gregg-Hanson said.

Two other workers were treated at Mason General and released, nursing supervisor Deanna Walker said.

The air compressor that exploded was at the back end of the sawmill, where the company produces lumber for home construction, Simpson spokeswoman Bev Holland said. There had been no previous problems with the machinery.

The cause of the explosion remained under investigation.