VIDEO - "Rare circumstances and operational errors" caused an explosion during a training exercise in October that injured two of the town's firefighters, investigators have concluded.
While the report does not explicitly fault any state or local fire personnel for the explosion, it does indicate operators of a fire simulator did not use the equipment properly and did not follow one safety protocol.
The Oct. 4 incident occurred inside the state Department of Fire Services' Mobile Live Fire Training Unit, which was being used by South Hadley Fire District 1 firefighters at the District 2 headquarters on Woodbridge Street.
The investigation was requested by state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. His office, the state police and representatives of the manufacturers of the mobile training unit were involved.