Foster City Fire Dept. Assists with Containing Menlo Park Lab Explosion

A methane explosion in a Menlo Park laboratory on Friday afternoon killed one worker and injured another.

Scientist Adrian Martin, 56, was transferring methane, helium, and nitrogen into one container at Membrane Technology and Research Inc., located on Willow Road in Menlo Park, shortly after 4 p.m. when a blast occurred. His co-workers dragged him into a hallway.

Firefighters performed CPR on the San Jose man but he succumbed to his injuries.

Membrane Technology and Research Inc. conducts research on petrochemicals and has performed the operation many times without incident, said Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman.

What caused the blast, "whether it was from overpressure or not, will be part of our investigation," he said.

A female co-worker standing near the door of the lab was thrown clear and survived. She was taken to Stanford Hospital after complaining of ear injuries, where she remains in "moderate" condition.

Fourteen fire engines responded to the call with Redwood City, Foster City, San Carlos, and Woodside fire departments providing back-up.

After the fire was contained, firefighters and members of a hazmat team ran large, rapid air movement (RAM) fans to speed the dissipation of methane gas leaking from a four-foot tank.

“The other employees were the ones that rushed in the laboratory at some risk to themselves, secured the cylinders, pulled the victim out into the corridor," Schapelhouman said. "They deserve a lot of credit for that."

Schapelhouman said Membrane Technology staffers were "obviously very shocked and stunned" by the loss of their co-worker.

"It’s very tragic," he said.

Schapelhouman said the blast and its aftermath pose no safety risk to residents in the surrounding communities of Menlo Park, Redwood City, Foster City and East Palo Alto.

-- Bay City News contributed to this report.