THREE MEN SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES FOLLOWING A TWO-ALARM FIRE AND GAS EXPLOSION IN SANTA CRUZ YESTERDAY. INVESTIGATORS RESPONDED AFTER A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS REPORTED ON THE 700-BLOCK OF THIRD STREET AT 1:30 P.M. AUTHORITIES SAY A FEW MORE EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED WHILE THEY WERE ON SCENE. A BEACH HILL NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THIRD AND CLIFF DRIVE WERE EVACUATED AS A PRECAUTION. THE INJURED MEN, ALL IN THEIR 2OS, WERE AIRLIFTED WITH SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO A NEARBY TRAUMA CENTER. INVESTIGATORS ARE CALLING THE FIRE SUSPICIOUS IN NATURE.
