Police officers and firefighters from two departments responded to an explosion Thursday afternoon in Columbia Heights.
Crews from Columbia Heights and St. Anthony were called to Invest Cast Inc. on the 700 block of 39th Avenue NE. near Huset Park. The company makes metal investment casting. Authorities blocked off 39th Avenue NE. for a short time.
Columbia Heights Fire Chief Gary Gorman said a machine with about 5 gallons of molten metal malfunctioned and exploded. Some molten metal flew out and started nearby pallets and boxes on fire.
The fire was quickly put out. No chemicals were involved, no one was injured and everyone got out of the building safely, Gorman said.
Tim Harlow, Pat Pheifer
