A propane tank explosion in a jewelry business Monday injured six people and blew out walls and windows in a Loop high-rise, showering glass on the street below and snarling afternoon rush-hour traffic.
Traffic ground to a halt for several hours after the explosion at 4:40 p.m. as firefighters and police worked to evacuate the Mallers Building, 5 S. Wabash Ave., home to many of Chicago’s jewelry stores and wholesalers.
A tank of propane, commonly used for melting metals for jewelry, exploded, on the sixth floor of the 21-story building, said Fire Department officials, who could not immediately name the business where the explosion occurred.
The blast blew out an adjacent elevator shaft wall, shattered windows and drove smoke throughout the building, forcing terrified employees onto fire escapes in the snow and freezing rain.
Six people were treated at area hospitals. The most severely injured, 20-year-old Michael Erdman, suffered burns to his face, ears, hands and chest, according to Northwestern Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Kelly Sullivan.
Erdman was transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was in serious condition.
Three other victims–a 14-year-old girl, a woman, 48, and a man, 50, were treated and released Monday night, a Northwestern Memorial Hospital administrator said.
A 29-year old man was treated and released from Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, and a 38-year-old man was listed in fair condition at Cook County Hospital.
Police cordoned off Wabash Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets, and Madison Street was closed between State Street and Michigan Avenue. City transportation officials said Wabash will remain closed between Washington and Monroe Streets through the Tuesday morning rush hour.
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The CTA’s Brown, Purple and Green Lines continued to operate, though trains were not stopping at the Madison/Wabash station, said CTA spokeswoman Anne McCarthy. Officials said trains would continue to bypass the station during the Tuesday morning rush.
The explosion caused panic among workers in the building, who said they felt the building shake and found the halls and stairways filled with thick black smoke.
“It was scary,” said Steve Ehrmann. “The entire building shook–I thought a bomb went off.”
Erhmann said he was working in his jewelry store on the 17th floor when he heard the blast. “Like an idiot, I’m staying there throwing stuff into a safe,” he said. “My wife was like, “What are you doing?'”
Don Bartlett, 30, who works across the street at 5 N. Wabash Ave., said he saw employees on the sixth floor break out windows and jump onto the fire escape. About 10 or 15 people climbed down the fire escape stairs to the sidewalk, while another dozen people were hanging out the windows calling for help as smoke billowed out around them.
Justin Smolinski, 21, was out for a run and was almost in front of the building when he heard a huge explosion and saw glass shower onto the streets. He saw people run out of the building, white-faced with panic.
A Fire Department spokesman said investigators believe there was no one inside the sixth-floor business at the time of the blast, but they were unsure how the tank ignited. “We don’t know whether the store was on fire and that caused the explosion or whether the tank exploded and caused the fire,” said Chicago Fire Commissioner James Joyce. At this point, he added, it did not appear that foul play was involved.