Multiple injured in fire at manufacturing plant in East Providence, RI

Multiple people are injured following an explosion and fire at a manufacturing plant in East Providence, Rhode Island, according to officials. Emergency crews are responding to what the city’s fire department described as a multiple casualty incident.

The explosion was reported Tuesday evening at Aspen Aerogels at 3 Dexter Road, where the East Providence Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency said crews are operating at an active multiple casualty incident and structure fire. Officials asked people to avoid the area.

Police officers said they located multiple people with minor injuries inside and outside the building, according to preliminary information reported by local outlet WJAR. The number of victims is unclear.

Footage from the scene showed a large emergency response, including several ambulances and police vehicles outside the plant. The footage does not show clear damage to the exterior of the manufacturing facility, but it is not immediately clear which section of the plant was affected.

Aspen Aerogels is a materials company that makes thermal insulation and fire-protection products used in industrial and electric-vehicle applications. Officials have not yet said what caused the explosion.