Four employees were injured Friday morning when an aerosol can ruptured during preparations for an employee breakfast at Macy's in Chicago's Loop, fire officials said.
The can got too close to a heating element at the store at 111 N. State St. and exploded, Field Chief Elliott Belez said. The store had not opened yet, and there were no customers in the building.
"The can apparently overheated and it exploded," Belez said.
A woman was taken to John H Stroger Jr. Hospital with facial burns, and three men were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Three of the employees were later released and "are doing fine," according to a Macy's spokeswoman.
"An accident happened where an aerosol can ruptured," store spokeswoman Andrea Schwartz said in a statement. "No harm has been done to the building and the store is operating normally."
Fire officials initially cited a "cooking incident with propane" but later clarified that no propane was involved. The woman was seen being taken from the store with towels on her face.
Schwartz confirmed the incident occurred in the lower-level demonstration kitchen.
"Four associates were injured in an accident related to a cooking event on the lower level pre-store opening," Schwartz said. "The accident is currently under investigation. No customers were injured as the store was not open at the time. The store is open and operating normally."
The Chicago Fire Department cited Macy's for violating safety protocols.
