Two men were burned late Wednesday in an explosion and fire at a west suburban Naperville restaurant.
Police and fire responded to an explosion at Gigi’s Restaurant at 10:53 p.m., Naperville police Cmdr. Joel Truemper said.
Of the two men injured with serious to critical burns over 40 percent to 50 percent of their bodies, one was “severely burned” and the other was “walking around.” The two men were transported to Edward Hospital in Napervilleand then airlifted to the Burn Unit at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood.
"They sustained what appeared to be flash-type burns," Naperville Fire Chief Mike Zywanski said.
Both men were believed to be employees or the popular pancake house. and were taken to Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Several NiCor trucks were at the scene and the front windows of the restaurant appeared to be blown out due to the explosion. Zywanski confirmed there was not only structural damage to the front of the building but also to the load-bearing wall that separates the restaurant from Michael Graham Salon, located next door.
Damage was also sustained to the roof, where firefighters extinguished the fire. Damage to the restaurant is extensive although no dollar estimate is yet available.
The restaurant’s Web site describes the eatery as a pancake house specializing in lunch and dinner -- especially Greek foods. Owner and host Peter Ladias has more than 30 years of restaurant experience, the site said.
The origin of the explosion was not immediately known and a police and fire task force were sent to the scene to evaluate the cause and whether the explosion is suspicious.
