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4 burned in cabin explosion in Calif.

Three were taken to burn center by helicopter and one was taken in an ambulance

By Sharon Noguchi
The San Jose Mercury News

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. — Four people were injured in an explosion this morning at a cabin east of Mount Hamilton in a remote area of Santa Clara County, according to Cal Fire.

All four victims, whose identities were not released, were transported to the burn center at Valley Medical Center in San Jose. Three were taken by helicopter and one was taken in an ambulance. One victim suffered major burns, two suffered critical burns and one suffered moderate burns, according to Cal Fire Capt. Jerry Agenbroad.

The explosion was reported about 11:30 a.m. in a kitchen at a cabin on Sawtooth Road, a private road several miles east of Mount Hamilton and north of Henry Coe Park. Fire engines and a medic unit arrived in 27 minutes, he said, traveling along San Antonio Valley Road and then 10 miles along Sawtooth, a dirt road, to the cabin, he said.

One helicopter was dispatched immediately, and arriving medics requested two more.

One victim suffered burns to 30 percent of the body and another person was burned on 50 percent of the body.

The explosion did not cause a structure fire, Agenbroad said. The cause is under investigation.

Copyright 2010 San Jose Mercury News