By Mary O’KEEFE

A blood drive is being held on Tuesday, March 26 for two Sport Chalet employees burned in a recent explosion at the La Cañada store. The blood drive is being held at the company’s corporate offices located at One Sport Chalet Drive in La Cañada, which is located behind the store.

Los Angeles County firefighters and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. sheriffs from the Crescenta Valley station responded to a call concerning an explosion at the Sport Chalet store in La Cañada about 10 a.m. on Friday, March 1.

“Employees smelled gas and shortly thereafter an explosion occurred resulting in two people being transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital,” said Stephanie English, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Fire Dept.

Two employees, Lauren Polzin and Victor Gonzales, were transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital with second and third degree burns, English said.

Suzanne Herzfeld was shopping at the Sport Chalet at the time of the explosion.

“I didn’t feel anything or hear anything. All the employees began moving very quickly, carrying fire extinguishers to the back of the building,” Herzfeld said. She added that the employees were very calm and moved very quickly. Everyone was immediately evacuated from the area.

“Today, in our La Cañada store, two of our experts [employees] were burned in an explosion just before 10 a.m. inside our scuba utility room, which is located outside our store adjacent to our scuba training pool,” stated Craig Levra, chairman and CEO of Sport Chalet in a prepared statement. “Our number one concern is the health and well-being of these two experts along with their families and friends.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with these two experts and we are grateful for the many expressions of support and concern from friends, customers and our entire Sport Chalet team.”

  Mary Okeefe