Industry news
Worker killed in ammo plant blast
Posted Fri, 07 Jan 2011
One worker has been killed and a firefighter injured when a series of explosions ripped through the Kinematics Research plant in Oakland, Tennessee - a factory that makes shells for pistols and rifles.
The 34-year-old man was killed in the explosion and subsequent fire at the plant, which housed several thousand rounds and gunpowder, Oakland police chief Rick Jewell said.
Mr Jewell said: "It was scary; we just got out of the way.
"It was a pretty horrific explosion. Rounds were going off for one solid hour. It sounded like continuous machine gun fire."
Witnesses said debris shot into the air during several explosions that spanned a half-hour.
The series of explosions, with shells going off for an hour, prevented fire crews from getting close to the building. A firefighter was injured, apparently hit by a bullet or fragment.
Copyright © Press Association 2011
Oakland police