Two workers were injured Monday afternoon, Nov. 9, while servicing water-heating equipment at Tiffany Court Assisted Living, 1866 San Miguel Drive in Walnut Creek, and were taken to a hospital, KRON4 reported, citing the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. ABC7 reported that about 60 residents, many in wheelchairs, were evacuated and later allowed to return.
Why it matters: Officials and news outlets do not agree on what happened inside the boiler room. KRON4, citing fire officials, said there was neither an explosion nor a fire. ABC7 reported a boiler explosion that sparked a small fire, confined to the boiler room, and said the contractors suffered burns. NBC Bay Area said the initial call, just before 2 p.m., described an explosion and evacuations because of a gas leak, and that sprinklers activated with no reported building damage.
KRON4 said the incident happened around 1:54 p.m. and that the workers’ injuries were not immediately specified. The facility told KRON4 that residents evacuated as a precaution and that no resident injuries were reported. ABC7 said one resident who had breathing problems was also taken to a hospital.
The available reports do not establish a cause. The discrepancy over whether there was an explosion or fire has not been resolved in the accounts released so far.