Pennsylvania chocolate manufacturing facility blast probe centered on fuel leak

Federal security officers are investigating the role of a natural gas pipeline in a fatal blast at a Pennsylvania chocolate manufacturing facility, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board introduced Tuesday.

Friday’s highly effective explosion at R.M. Palmer Co. killed seven folks, despatched 10 to the hospital and broken a number of different buildings in West Studying, a small city 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, the place the 75-year-old, family-owned firm has lengthy had a manufacturing facility.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board introduced the probe late Tuesday afternoon, calling the incident a “pure fuel” explosion and hearth. The company has preliminary data from native authorities and a pure fuel utility {that a} fuel pipeline was concerned, an company spokesperson, Keith Holloway, instructed The Related Press.

NTSB is investigating “what prompted, how and why the explosion occurred,” based on Holloway.

Different native, state and federal investigations are ongoing.

Pennsylvania State Police have stated “every thing’s on the desk” as hearth marshals additionally attempt to pinpoint the origin and trigger. Some employees instructed family members they smelled pure fuel earlier than the blast, though the fuel utility UGI stated it obtained no reviews of a fuel leak.

“UGI is cooperating with authorities within the investigation in regards to the incident at R.M. Palmer,” utility spokesperson Joe Swope stated late Tuesday. He directed additional inquiries to the NTSB.