New Hampshire Ball Bearing Factory Explosion; At Least 10 Injured

There are breaking reports of two explosions at a ball bearings factory in Peterborough, New Hampshire, according to WMUR. The explosion happened at around 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. The plant employs about 450 workers.

This a breaking story so please stay tuned for updates.

Here’s what we know so far:

1. There Are Multiple Injuries

At least ten people have been injured prompting a mass casualty incident. According to WMUR, two the injuries are being treated as serious and those victims were airlifted from the scene.

2. Over 100 Firefighters Are Battling the Blaze

Emergency services from dozens of surrounding towns are on hand to help. The Monadnock Ledger Transcript reports that crews from “Dublin, Hancock, Rindge, Bennington and Peterborugh” were battling the blaze. The firefighters have created a staging area in the parking lot of the factory. The paper further reports that there are six to eight ambulances on scene.

3. HAZ-MAT Are Responding

It’s not known what caused the explosion. New Hampshire Fire Mutual Aid sent out a tweet saying that a HAZ-MAT team were called to the scene. The Associated Press reports that hospitals have been asked to prepare for patients who may have been exposed to hazardous materials.

4. Avoid the Area

Drivers are advised to avoid the area around Route 202 near the factory. Steve Bourgeois of Peterborough Collision, a company that’s 200-300 feet from the ball bearing factory told WMUR, “It shook our building, shook the plate glass in our showroom.” An employee of the ball bearings factory, Danielle Drouin, told The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, she “thought it was an earthquake.” Adding that she had some people injured but wasn’t sure how many and that employees had not been allowed to leave the premises initially until a headcount was completed.

5. The Company Has Been in NH Nearly 60 Years

The company was founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire since 1946. Across the U.S., the firm employs 1,500 people. The company makes ball bearings for everything from space travel to dental applications.

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