SUNDERLAND — A small explosion stemming from a gas leak resulted in minor injuries to an employee at Goten of Japan on Wednesday.

First responders were dispatched to Goten of Japan on Old Amherst Road at around 4 p.m. in response to a small explosion that had occurred about 30 minutes prior. Upon their arrival, first responders met with two employees, one of whom had sustained minor burns from the explosion. According to Sunderland Fire Chief Steven Benjamin, the employee declined transport from South County EMS, but was privately transported to the hospital. Sunderland Police also responded.

“It sounded more ominous than it was,” Benjamin said at the restaurant. “One of the people working in the kitchen did have minor thermal burns.”

Benjamin said first responders being dispatched about a half hour after the incident was “probably a testament” to the unexpectedness of the explosion, the shock of the employees and how minor the resulting injuries were.

“It was more of a startling event,” he said.

Dead River Co., a Northampton-based gas and propane business, was working inside the restaurant on pipes while firefighters worked outside. Benjamin said if their work finished quickly, they could conduct a safety inspection and Goten of Japan could reopen to customers for the evening.

“It should be back in business,” Benjamin said.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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