Thirteen employees were injured in a fire and an apparent explosion at an industrial plant in East Providence on Wednesday evening, metropolis and public security officers mentioned.
There had been no studies of “major injuries,” Mayor Bob DaSilva and police and fireplace officers mentioned in a joint assertion late Wednesday evening.
The staff had been taken to space hospitals “as a precaution and for medical evaluation,” DaSilva mentioned in a separate assertion on Facebook.
But a mass casualty incident was declared for the explosion that reported at 8:14 p.m. at the Aspen Aerogels facility positioned at 3 Dexter Road, in keeping with the assertion.
According to the corporate’s web site, Aspen Aerogels develops know-how for electrical autos and vitality infrastructure.
The firm couldn’t instantly be reached by cellphone or e-mail.
Officials didn’t say what triggered the fireplace or explosion. An investigation is ongoing. DaSilva instructed the Globe Thursday morning the town’s constructing official can be on website “examining the physical safety of the structure.”
He mentioned the explosion broken manufacturing gear inside the power.
East Providence police, fireplace and emergency service crews responded to the scene, together with the state fireplace marshal’s workplace.
Mutual support providers is being supplied by fireplace crews from Central Falls, Cranston, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield and Seekonk, Mass., the assertion mentioned.
All site visitors is being diverted away from the realm of the explosion and motorists are urged to keep away from the realm, metropolis officers mentioned.
East Providence fireplace officers couldn’t instantly be reached for additional remark by the Globe.
A severe fireplace was additionally reported at the corporate in January, WJAR in Providence reported.
This breaking information story will probably be up to date if extra info turns into out there.
This story has been up to date with feedback from Bob DaSilva.
Camille Bugayong will be reached at camille.bugayong@globe.com. Steph Machado will be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.
