Small Explosion At NJ Factory Injures 4 Workers
MOONACHIE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A small explosion and fire at a New Jersey factory injured several people Monday afternoon.
The four-alarm blaze broke out around 4:30 p.m. at the Crest Foam Industries building on Carol Place in Moonachie.
Small Explosion At NJ Factory Injures 4 Workers
Moonachie Assistant Fire Chief Justin Derevyanki told 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten it was a deafening explosion that he heard a home three blocks away.
Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control after about an hour and a half.
Four employees at the factory were taken to the hospital for concussions, CBS 2 reported.
"All of the employees in the building, a total of 17, four were injured -- minor with head injuries treated and transported to Hackensack University Medical Center," Derevyanki said.
Small Explosion At NJ Factory Injures 4 Workers
The immediate concern was toxins being released in the air, so a reverse 911 protocol was activated urging residents to stay inside and keep their windows closed. However, officials said at a briefing that the air was tested and is safe to breath, 1010 WINS reported.
"There's no Hazmat release. There's no effects of any hazardous materials in the air or in the building. There's no threat to the community at this time," Derevyanki said.
The owner of the plant said workers were mixing hydrogen and oxygen to make polyurethane foam when the explosion happened, WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway.
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