Orange County Plant Explosion Kills Two

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Orange County Plant Explosion Kills Two

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif.

Two men were killed and two others injured when an industrial-sized electric water heater exploded in an Rancho Santa Margarita plastics factory.

The blast at 11:38 p.m. Thursday was of such force that it shot the water heater straight up through the south Orange County factory’s roof. It then came crashing back inside the building to the ground.

Killed were Isidro Echeverria, 34, of Oceanside, and Jose Jimenez, 51, of Garden Grove. Two other men were transported to a hospital with minor injuries, authorities said, while two others refused treatment at the scene.

The men were working the night shift at Solus Industrial Innovations, which manufactures and distributes conveyors, conveying equipment, plastic belts and other products.

Orange County firefighters from a station across the street heard – and felt – the blast. But the explosion caused no fire. "

One of the guys there described it like a truck had hit the station, just the force from the blast across the street," said Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion.

Arson investigators on Friday were looking for the cause of the explosion, which blew chunks of concrete into the air and buckled the walls of the building at 30152 Aventura Ave.

About 40 firefighters and a hazmat team responded, but there were no hazardous materials inside the building, although the plant did use plastics, authorities said. The explosion blew concrete about 20 feet into the air, punched a hole in the roof, triggered the interior sprinklers and buckled the walls.

“We deeply regret that two of our employees were killed in the accident,” said Dave Baldridge, a Solus spokesman. “We extend our deepest sympathies to their families, and we will provide all support possible to them during this difficult time.”

-- Mike Anton

Source: Los Angeles Times

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Saturday, March 21, 2009