Panera Bread in the Fountain Square shopping center on Monday, June 13, 2020.
Brian Gioiele / Hearst Connecticut MediaSHELTON — Panera Bread and several vehicles parked outside the Fountain Square location were hit with debris during blasting on the site Tuesday, officials said.
No one was injured, according to Fire Marshal James Tortora, but the building and five vehicles were struck about 9 a.m. at the development located at 801 Bridgeport Ave.
Daniel Witkins, Sr., of DFW Building Co., the construction manager for the Fountain Square project, said the property owners had no comment on the incident.
Tortora said his office and Shelton police responded to the scene.
“An investigation found that a blast caused the bottom of a rock outcrop to ‘kickout’ causing fly rock to strike the Panera Bread building and five vehicles,” said Tortora, whose office issues blasting permits and monitors to make sure the permittee follows state regulations on the use, transportation and storage of explosives.
"Although one injury was reported it was unfounded,” Tortora added. “The ‘kickout’ was unforeseen and although it may happen, it is a very rare event.”
Tortora said he and representatives of the State Fire Marshal’s Office were at the site Thursday morning for a follow-up investigation.
“There was no criminal intent and no regulations violated,” said Tortora, adding that D’Ambrosio Blasting Co., which is handling the work, have resumed blasting operations at the site.
Tortora said he has not received any call of damage from anyone else in the area.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com