TOWN OF WALLKILL – Two workers at the Oprandy’s Fire and Safety
company in the Mechanicstown section of the Town of Wallkill suffered
serious injuries Friday morning when a fire extinguisher they were working
on exploded.
State Police said one man had both legs blown off below the knee and the
other man lost his right leg below the knee.
The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m.
Troopers said Frank Buono, 23, of Goshen, lost his right leg and Christopher
Foust, 35, of Warwick, lost both legs below the knee. Both were flown
to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for emergency treatment.
The US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
has investigators at the scene along with local authorities.
The cause remains under investigation.
Investigation revealed that Foust was filling a fire extinguisher with
air when the tank ruptured causing injuries to himself and Buono.
Wallkill Town Supervisor Daniel Depew credited town police for their quick
response using tourniquets on the men’s injuries to stop the bleeding.
Also responding rapidly to the scene were State Police, the Orange County
Sheriff’s Office, Mechanicstown and Silver Lake firefighters and
Mobile Life Support Services.
