10 Firms Being Probed in North Carolina Slim Jim Explosion

North Carolina regulators say they are investigating 10 companies in the probe of a natural gas explosion that killed three people at a Slim Jim plant.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for several workers said he is suing two additional companies he alleges were involved. A mechanical contractor already had been named in a lawsuit.

The state Department of Labor says 10 outside companies had employees on the site of the ConAgra Inc. plant near Raleigh when the explosion ripped through it June 9. Federal agencies have said the blast was caused by natural gas in the building when a water heater was installed.

Department spokesman Neal O’Briant says inspectors are looking at all the companies, including an industrial water heater-maker and a mechanical contractor.