4 hospitalized after California metal recycling center explosion
Metal cylinders containing compressed gas exploded with others scattered about the neighborhood by the force of blasts.
Montclair police lifted evacuation orders Thursday evening near the site where explosions rocked a metal recycling plant and released potentially dangerous gases.
Metal cylinders containing compressed gas exploded, ABC7 reported, with others scattered about the neighborhood near 10775 State St. by the force of blasts that began at about 9 a.m.
Five people were reported injured, four of them hospitalized, after being burned or hit by shrapnel.
The police department said on Facebook the mandatory evacuations were issued “out of an abundance of caution.”
The evacuated areas were:
- State Street between Ramona Avenue and Silicon Avenue
- Westbound Mission Boulevard between Ramona Avenue and Silicon Avenue
- All of Ramona Avenue and Silicon Avenue between Mission Boulevard and State Street
The American Red Cross was setting up an evacuation site at the Montclair Community Center at 5111 Benito St., the police department said at about 3 p.m. Anyone with questions was asked to call 909-625-9479 for shelter information.
The smoke from the blaze was seen for miles. In a video briefly posted on Twitter before being removed, repeated popping noises could be heard coming from the property. Some cars parked in the neighborhood were damaged by flying debris.
A Montclair police dispatcher originally said the fire was burning at 10775 Silicon Ave., which is the address for Cali Foam Products. But a person who answered the phone there Thursday said the fire was next door.
Streets were closed in the area of Silicon, State Street and 3rd Street.
Some Ontario-Montclair School District schools were placed on precautionary lockdowns, the school district said on Twitter.