By Mary O’KEEFE

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. this morning.

“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. Transported with second and third degree burns were a 27-year-old female and a 30-year-old male.

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.

The explosion occurred near the store’s utility room. The investigation is ongoing with the L.A.County Fire Dept. and CV sheriffs.