Explosion and fire at an Ohio metallurgical factory leaves at least 13 people injured

At least 13 people were taken to local hospitals after an explosion at a metal factory near Oakwood, Ohio, according to Capt. Brian DiRocco of the Oakwood Village Fire Department.

The explosion occurred at the I. Schumann & Co. building, a metal alloy factory, according to CNN affiliate WOIO, which is on site.

At least two people are in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center, according to the institution’s media relations specialist, Dorsena Drakeford.

Previously, DiRocco had reported that there were several injuries with burns. He also added that the whereabouts of all the staff are known.

Most of the fire was extinguished by 5 p.m. and crews are now working to turn off active light sources, DiRocco explained. The explosion and fire occurred around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon and left debris scattered around the area, he said.

Multiple fire departments responded to a large fire on the scene, the Twinsburg Fire Department said. This agency sent a team to respond to the patients and transported at least one person to the hospital, the department told CNN.

It is not known what caused the fire, a Twinsburg Fire Department spokesman said.

Because the fire occurred in the Walton Hills and Oakwood area, many rural fire departments have responded.

Stephenie Davis was at her job in Oakwood Village when she suddenly felt the entire building begin to shake. She walked to a window and saw a “huge cloud of black smoke” coming from a building about 1,000 feet away, Davis told CNN.

Davis and her coworkers went outside to see what was going on and saw debris on the roof and scattered across the parking lot, she said.

“Some windows in our neighboring building across from us were blown out, cars were damaged and debris on the ground caught fire,” Ella Davis said.

Videos posted on Facebook show a large cloud of smoke stretching across the sky as flames continue to burn in a building across the street. The footage shows burning debris in the parking lot next to a truck with dents and damage.

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