Explosion, fire reported at Cleveland, Okla. aerospace manufacturing business
CLEVELAND, Okla. (KTUL) — An explosion and massive fire in Cleveland, Okla., ripped through one of the town's largest employers Tuesday.
The explosion happened at the ICES Corporation, which manufactures components for the aerospace industry, just off Highway 64 around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. By the time the Cleveland Fire Department, it was too late to save the building, officials said.
Cleveland Fire Chief Ryan Murray said two men were cleaning the floors in the building when the explosion occurred. He said they were talking and conscious when they went to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries is still unknown.
Smoke billowed through broken windows as crews desperately tried to get the fire under control.
“It’s really, really difficult to do anything,” Murray said. “I didn’t get an exact temperature off of the fire, but I’m guessing it was about 1,300-1,400 degrees in there.”
Much of the building is built from sheet metal, intensifying already scorching heat.
The business owner and some employees watched in stunned silence. They were powerless as 22 years of hard work went up in smoke.
“It’s pretty devastating,” Murray said. “You’ve got 50-60 people that don’t know what the future holds right now.”
Murray has lived in Cleveland his whole life. The impact to families and dear friends hit him hard.
“As far as me,” he said, “I’m physically ill right now. I’m physically ill.”
Crews are still investigating what blew up inside the building.
