BURLINGTON, MA — A Buffalo Wild Wings worker died and ten others were hospitalized after being exposed to a powerful cleaning agent in the kitchen Thursday night, authorities said. The worker was an unidentified man.
The Burlington Fire Department responded to the South Avenue restaurant after receiving a call at 5:36 p.m. Firefighters found Armstrong Ambulance Service EMTs treating the worker, who was in serious condition and nauseous after breathing in fumes. The worker was taken to Lahey Hospital, where he died.
Officials said Friday the man was the restaurant’s general manager.
Interim Fire Chief Michael Patterson said the accident happened when an employee attempted to clean the floor using Super 8, a concentrated chlorine bleach. The worker who died was squeegeeing the cleaner out of the restaurant when he fell ill.
“This is a product we’ve been told is a common product used in floor cleaning,” Patterson said. “For some reason tonight it was just a reaction that led to this.”
Officials do not know if the product reacted with something else.
A Buffalo Wild Wings spokesperson released this statement:
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of this horrific accident at our franchise-owned sports bar and are working closely with our franchisee and the authorities while they conduct an investigation. Because the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to share any additional comment at this time. Any further questions will need to be referred to the local authorities.”
Of the ten people who were hospitalized, two were diners. Their symptoms included difficulty breathing, runny/watery eyes and shortness of breath.
“Patients are being treated and monitored. They were placed on oxygen,” Patterson said. “I do not believe anybody is in serious condition right now.”
One customer described the scene.
“We’re just sitting there when we start smelling the ammonia or whatever it is,” Michael Burstein told WHDH. “We see the employees, the waitstaff, everybody kind of, just flee.”
Customers who spoke to WHDH’s Nathalie Pozo said that they received no communication from employees at the restaurant.
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“The cause of the incident is under investigation,” the fire department said in a statement. “At this time, there is no active threat to public safety. However, the restaurant will be closed for the night while the investigation continues and crews work to make the building safe.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and Burlington police launched an investigation. Officials said around 10:30 p.m. Thursday that “the building will likely be turned over to management later this evening and a cleanup crew will be called to clean the building.”
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— John M. Guilfoil (@johnguilfoil) November 8, 2019
Hazardous materials technicians are entering the restaurant as firefighters on breathing apparatus standby in case of trouble. This is standard operating procedure. pic.twitter.com/AUlCJhnB5J
— John M. Guilfoil (@johnguilfoil) November 8, 2019
Christopher Huffaker can be reached at [email protected] and 412-265-8353.