13 Workers Injured in East Providence Industrial Facility Fire, Explosion

Thirteen workers were hospitalized Wednesday night after an explosion and fire tore through the Aspen Aerogels manufacturing facility at 3 Dexter Road in East Providence, triggering a mass casualty declaration and drawing emergency crews from seven surrounding communities.

Police and fire crews responded to the Aspen Aerogels plant at 8:14 p.m. after reports of an explosion and fire inside the building, and officers located multiple injured employees both inside and outside the facility. All 13 were taken to area hospitals "as a precaution and for medical evaluation," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. There were no reports of "major injuries," DaSilva and police and fire officials said in a joint statement late Wednesday night.

DaSilva said the explosion caused "significant damage to the manufacturing equipment." Fire officials said the back of the building suffered significant damage.

City officials diverted traffic from Dexter Road while the Office of the State Fire Marshal investigates, and the city's building inspector was dispatched to evaluate the structure for damage. The mass casualty declaration activated mutual aid from fire departments in Central Falls, Cranston, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield, and Seekonk, Massachusetts, to prevent local emergency services from being overwhelmed.

According to the company's website, Aspen Aerogels develops technology for electric vehicles and energy infrastructure. The company issued a statement confirming the scope of the incident: "We are working closely with local first responders, and we are grateful for their swift and professional response. Thirteen of our employees were transported to the hospital with what have been reported as minor injuries."

A serious fire was also reported at the same company in January, though officials had not connected the two incidents in their initial statements. The cause of Wednesday's explosion remained under investigation.