Overview
- East Providence officials declared a mass-casualty incident after the Aspen Aerogels facility exploded Wednesday around 8:15 p.m.
- The label triggers regional mutual aid and alerts hospitals to prepare for a surge of patients.
- The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal ruled the blast an accident caused by ethanol vapors that built up in a drying oven used to cure insulation.
- Thirteen workers went to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, though the mayor and fire chief later said 11, and all were released by early Thursday.
- The blast bent steel walls and destroyed supports inside the building, and operations are paused as the fire department and OSHA review safety systems; officials reported no significant off-site chemical release.