Two men were burned today in a propane fire at an apartment building in Hilo, Big Island firefighters said.

Firefighters responded to a report of two burn victims because of a propane release on the rooftop of Bayshore Tower at 84 Pukihae St.

Firefighters said paramedics treated the men and took them to Hilo Medical Center in serious condition with first- and second-degree burns to the face and arms. The propane source was shut off prior to the arrival of firefighters about 12:20 p.m.

The men are plumbers and were installing a fitting onto the propane tank or some other kind of construction work when the incident happened, firefighters said.