Five seriously injured in downtown Rochester explosion, including three children

Seven injured, five hospitalized as heater explodes in Rochester

At least three of the injured were children, according to officials.

ROCHESTER, Mich. (FOX 2) - At least seven people were injured in an explosion in downtown Rochester Saturday evening, that happened outside of 423 Main Bar Grill & Rooftop.

Rochester Fire Chief John Cieslik said there were five patients transported with injuries, including three children. Two others were treated at the scene and released.

Cieslik said there is no outdoor dining at the restaurant where the explosion happened, and it is unclear why they were lighting the heater.

"It just rattled everyone in the restaurant," Mark Mendola, the owner of D'Marcos Restaurant, said.

Several emergency vehicles blocked roads near N. Main Street and E. University around 9 p.m.

Cieslik said it was a stroke of luck that an EMS unit from Rochester Hills just happened to be passing by as the explosion happened and started to triage patients immediately.

This is a breaking news story, stay with Fox 2 for updates.

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Explosion in downtown Rochester. (Photo courtesy of Joel Feick)