Explosion at Red Deer car wash sends 3 to hospital: owner

A car wash in Red Deer reopened one day after three men were rushed to hospital following an explosion in the detailing bay.

Heebo Jo, an owner at Lazer Wash, told Global News the car wash reopened on Saturday, following the explosion late Friday afternoon.

Jo said Friday that two of the victims were workers while he believed the third was at the car wash for a job interview.

Jo said he was not there at the time of the explosion but said the blast occurred in the car wash’s detailing bay and may have been related to the use of a solvent-based chemical.

Jo said he believes the victims burned their legs but did not know the severity of the injuries. He said the men were taken to hospital.

The business was closed after the explosion and an employee said emergency crews were at the scene.

“Fire investigators are investigating the bay,” Jo said just before 6 p.m.

View photos of the aftermath of the explosion below:

An employee at a nearby spa said she did not see what happened but heard the explosion and that it sounded like a “big thunderclap.”

The RCMP said it has determined the explosion was not “criminal in nature” and said Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has now taken over the investigation.

Global News has reached out to OHS for more information on the explosion.

-With files from Erika Tucker.