Two workers were killed in an explosion that rocked an Ohio industrial recycling business early Tuesday, igniting a large fire that scorched the building and prompted an investigation by federal authorities. The incident occurred at Brent Industries in Toledo.
Flames and dark smoke billowed from the facility after two explosions were reported shortly before 5 a.m., during a shift change, according to Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong. Crews discovered the bodies of a man and a woman inside the smoldering structure. Two to three other employees sustained minor injuries. The fire chief noted that firefighters had to contend with hazardous materials, runoff, and the potential for further explosions during their initial search for victims and to account for all employees.
Environmental officials indicated that air monitoring showed no hazardous threat in the atmosphere. A nearby resident reported feeling the shockwaves from the explosion nearly half a mile away.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the explosions remains undetermined, and the fire was still burning into the afternoon. Aerial views revealed that the blast had destroyed nearly the entire roof and blown out the walls of the building. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation, which is expected to take up to six months, and will not release further details until its completion.
Authorities advised residents in the vicinity who could see or smell smoke to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.
Brent Industries, which has operations in Toledo and Brent, Alabama, offers textile reconditioning and industrial recycling services. The company's website states it utilizes mineral spirits in its cleaning processes for textiles that may contain hazardous substances. Officials confirmed that tanks containing mineral spirits were present at the Toledo plant.
This is not the first incident involving Brent Industries and OSHA citations. In 2015, an explosion and fire at the company's Alabama location resulted in one fatality. Following that event, OSHA determined that flammable vapor from mineral spirits had ignited in an industrial washing machine. The company received six citations and was fined $27,000. Records also show that in 2004, OSHA cited Brent Industries for two serious violations at its Toledo plant related to worker safety during exposure to a high-temperature steam release.