The general manager of a Jessup warehouse suffered minor burns yesterday morning after a natural gas leak caused two small explosions, Howard County fire officials said.

Workers at L & M Produce Co. in the 7300 block of Assateague Drive called the fire department about 8: 56 to report that natural gas had been leaking for about five minutes and caused an explosion in one of the company's produce coolers. The cooler leads to a loading dock outside.

Fire officials said that about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived at 9: 06 a.m., there was a second explosion in the refrigerator.

"While our people were in there, they heard an explosion," said Capt. Chris Shimer of the Howard County Fire Department. "Gas was escaping through a ventilation system."

A fire caused by the explosions was extinguished by about 10 a.m., Shimer said.

"You could hear and smell the gas leak," said Mike Hart, 51, of Catonsville, who saw the explosion. The explosion "shot flames from the doorway to the edge of the loading dock," he said.

Joe Saia, 53, the general manager, suffered minor burns while helping to evacuate some 30 employees. He was treated at Howard County General Hospital and released, said a hospital spokeswoman.

Herb Lichtenstein, 40, owner of L & M Produce, said there was about $50,000 worth of fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator.

Fire officials estimated structural damage to the warehouse at $2,500.

A preliminary investigation determined that a forklift may have struck a gas line and caused the leak, Shimer said.

Pub Date: 3/31/99