2 Ottawa paramedics recovering in hospital after training explosion

Two paramedics sat up in bed in the intensive care unit of the Ottawa Hospital on Thursday, one day after a training exercise explosion in Kanata left them with second-degree burns on their hands and legs.

• 5 firstrespondershurt in Ottawa training exercise explosion

Supt. CraigMacInnesand ReidPurdywere sedated after the explosion on Wednesday morning and intubatedto prevent their airways from swelling shut.Ottawa paramedic chiefAnthony Di Monte said both were alert when he met with them on Thursday morning but the tubes remained in their throats.

"We were able to kind of exchange and make grunts and talk in that way. It's very, very positive," Di Monte said."I'm pleased to report that they are progressing very positively. I want to couch that they're still in the intensive care unit. They're still in serious condition."

He said the families of the injured men want to thank the public for an "outpouring of support."

A third paramedic and two Ottawa police officers sustained minor injuries in the explosion. All were wearing protective gear during the training exercise,Di Monte said.

SIU, Ontario Ministry of Labour investigating

Ottawa police, paramedics and RCMP had been conducting ajoint forced-entry exercise involving explosives atan abandoned houseon March Road on Wednesday morning. The hostage simulationinvolvedofficers inside the house acting asvictims and suspects,police sources told CBC News.

Di Monte said "doors were being broken down" after the explosion to support those who were injured.

"When the chips are down you can certainly depend on those members to be there for you," he said.

Sources told CBC News thatexplosive devices are "triple checked" before use, and thatall officers are supposed to take coverbefore explosions.

Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau said Wednesday that he could not get into specifics about the training exercise or the types of explosives used because the Special Investigations Unit had invoked its mandate. The SIUinvestigates incidents in which police officers are involved in serious injuries or death.

Ontario's Ministry of Labour is also investigating.