Memphis, TNAn explosion at a flare-manufacturing plant in Memphis has left six people injured, six of them critically, the Associated Press reports. A large local hospital has reported that three people were brought in to the hospital in critical condition.
The explosion occurred at Kilgore Flares Co in Toone, Tennesse, about 75 miles northeast of Memphis, around 12:30 pm. The Mayor of the County, Willie Spence, told AP that the fire was contained in one building, which sustained heavy damage. "It could have been a lot worse," he said. The cause of the explosion is not yet known.
Kilgore, which is owned by British-based Chemring Group, supplies infra red decoy flares for the military, and reportedly received a $22.5 million contract from the Department of Defense for flares for B-52 aircraft earlier this year.
"Due to the nature of the materials involved, and its proximity to other materials, the emergency services consider it is best to let the fire burn itself out," Chemring said in a statement. "Once the fire is extinguished, an investigation into the cause of the incident will be undertaken in cooperation with the local authorities."