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Fire explodes paint thinner, oxygen cans in Mount Pleasant building
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An industrial building in Mount Pleasant is fully engulfed in fire that is causing multiple cans of paint thinner housed inside to explode, according to Westmoreland County safety officials.
The building, which is owned by sheet metal manufacturer EHC Industries, is located at 319 Westec Dr., according to county public safety spokesman Dan Stevens.
When fire crews from Mount Pleasant, Hempfield, East Huntington and the Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials team arrived shortly after the fire was called in about 4 p.m., the building was already consumed by heavy fire, Mr. Stevens said.
He said the building's owner warned fire officials of paint thinner and oxygen bottles stored inside the building, creating a potentially dangerous situation for fire crews.
"Each can of paint thinner will have an explosion to it," he said.
Mr. Stevens said he did not know how many cans of paint thinner were being stored inside the building.
First Published December 21, 2012 5:05 pm
