Massachusetts Chemical Plant Explodes, Injuring Four

A chemical plant in Massachusetts exploded Sunday evening, shaking nearby homes, injuring four people and raising concerns about water and air safety.

The explosion caused a fire at one of the Bostik Inc. buildings in an industrial complex in Middleton, about 20 miles north of Boston. The fire at the plant, which manufactures plastics and adhesives, was put out about an hour after the explosion was reported at 7:39 p.m.

The explosion damaged two buildings in the complex, and debris was widespread, officials said.

“The explosion was both heard and felt for several miles around the area of the plant,” state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said.

The cause of the blast remained under investigation.

Bostik, which has corporate offices in Wauwatosa, Wis., didn’t immediately return telephone messages seeking comment Sunday.

Hazardous-materials and environmental protection teams were called to monitor the quality of the air and water because of runoff into the neighborhood around the plant, where several homes have wells.

Coan said preliminary monitoring of air quality showed no environmental concerns. Tests were still being conducted on the water, and no evacuations had been ordered, he said.

“There is no danger at this time for individuals who live in this area,” Coan said.

Beverly Peterson lives about a quarter of a mile from the plant and said she felt the blast.

“Oh, yeah, it shook our house something fierce,” she said.

Peterson said her son-in-law and a friend’s nephew work at the plant. She said her son-in-law was working when the plant exploded but wasn’t injured.

The four people who were hurt suffered injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening, authorities said. They went through a decontamination procedure at a hospital and were released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Coan said he didn’t know what the workers were doing at the time of the explosion or what tasks normally happen in the building where the explosion occurred.

“We haven’t had an opportunity to interview the workers or reach that level yet,” he said.