BERKELEY — Two flooring contractors were hospitalized with burns Tuesday after a fire at Bayer Corporation, authorities said.
A third person who was briefly trapped was able to flee the burning structure without being injured.
The fire started in an unoccupied building at the pharmaceutical company complex at 800 Dwight Way about 11:02 a.m. Tuesday where flooring contractors from Anderson Commercial Flooring were working.
The two workers sustained burns, but were able to get out of the building on their own before being taken to a hospital.
The fire activated sprinklers which, combined with the work of firefighters, had the fire under control by 11:30 a.m.
In a statement, Bayer confirmed the fire was contained within one floor of one of its site buildings, and said staff were working to find what caused the fire. A damage estimate was not immediately available Wednesday.
A man who was briefly trapped in a room next to the one the fire started in was able to get out on his own.
In a statement obtained Wednesday, Anderson Flooring president Joe Christophe said “we are devastated, but supporting the families and praying for their speedy recovery.
“We are currently working with Berkeley Fire Department, Cal Osha, and all parties involved to figure out exactly what happened.”
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.