The incident was reported at approximately 9:15 p.m. on industrial property at 4200 Third Street, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The city announced a mandatory evacuation order shortly after 4:20 p.m. for some nearby areas due to potentially “dangerous” gases released by the blasts. The city said the evacuation order was given due diligence and lifted several hours later. The condition of the victims and details of their injuries were not immediately known. Two patients were taken to hospital by ambulance, while two others were taken to a medical center in civilian vehicles. “There has been a report of an explosion at a local factory (south of Montclair),” the Ontario-Montclair School District said on Twitter. “NO IMPACT ON ANY OMSD SCHOOL Currently, some schools have been placed on a PREVENTIVE LOCK.” A subsequent tweet stated that “there was no interruption of teaching”. Several concerned people in the area took to social media shortly after the blasts, which were heard from miles away, and sent a pile of dense black smoke rising into the air. The video shows a dramatic fire on the premises. “Everything erupted like a horrific war over here,” said witness Albert Castro. Emergency responders set up perimeter in the area as firefighters used fire hoses to extinguish piles of metal canisters under pressure on the ground at the facility. “I ran out of my front door and things were already flying,” said Bridge Boyd, who lives near the industrial property, referring to debris raining down on the neighborhood. The shrapnel landed on the roofs of houses and parked vehicles. Castro’s pants were partially torn by falling debris. “I went to look at my car and I was hit in the leg,” he said, adding that his car was “hit” by the fall. The causes of the incident are being investigated. “When we heat compressed gas cylinders, there is always the potential for them to break,” said Rc Dierck, chief of staff at the Montclair Fire Department. “Well, because of this threat, we are evaluating it with trained professionals to make sure it is safe for the community.” Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
