Up To 35 Hurt In Blasts, Fire At New York Cosmetics Factory
NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (AP) — Two explosions and a fire at a cosmetics factory about an hour's drive north of New York City left 30 to 35 people injured, including seven firefighters caught in the second blast, authorities said Monday.
The first explosion occurred around 10:15 a.m. Monday at the Verla International cosmetics factory, New Windsor police said. Firefighters who responded were inside when the second explosion occurred around 10:40 a.m.
Up to 35 people were being treated for injuries, including seven firefighters, most of them from the nearby city of Newburgh, Town Supervisor George Green said. Two of the firefighters were taken to the burn unit at Westchester Medical Center, he said. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening. One employee remains unaccounted for.
There was no word on a cause of the blaze, which fire crews and hazardous materials teams were battling into late Monday afternoon.
"It's still an active fire scene," Green said, adding that the flames were "knocked down pretty well at this point."
Television video showed thick, black smoke spewing from a section of the roof of the sprawling facility, which includes manufacturing and warehouse buildings. Workers milled about a parking lot while fire crews looked on.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said state emergency response teams have been sent to the factory. State personnel dispatched included homeland security staffers, state police, environmental conservation enforcement officers and health department technicians, the Democratic governor said. The state also will investigate working conditions and regulatory compliance at the plant.
"Following today's chemical explosion, I am directing a multi-agency investigation to get to the bottom of what happened and review compliance with state labor and environmental laws," he said in a statement.
The factory is about a half-mile from the town hall and police station in New Windsor, on the Hudson River's west bank, 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of New York City. The 37-year-old New Windsor-based company's website says the products it makes include nail polish, perfumes, lotions and other products.
The company's phone number wasn't working. An email sent to the company wasn't answered.
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