Montclair Factory Explosion: 4 Reported Hurt, Smoke Visible Miles Away

MONTCLAIR, CA — A reported explosion Thursday morning at a metal recycling center in Montclair sent smoke billowing into the sky that was visible miles away, and forced nearby schools to go into a precautionary lockdown.

The explosion happened around 9:15 a.m. on Silicon Avenue, near Third Street.

The blast left four people hurt, KABC-TV reported. Bomb squad and hazardous material teams were sent to the factory, the TV station reported.

Video taken at the factory showed a firefighter standing near a debris field along a road in front of the building. More debris was strewn on a driveway leading into the factory.

The Ontario-Montclair School District said the explosion didn't damage any schools, but that some schools were locked down as a precaution.

In a 9:45 a.m. update, the district said the factory experienced an "industrial incident" that was contained to the site.

"NO IMPACT TO ANY OMSD SCHOOLS. No disruption to instruction," the district tweeted.

The fire created a plume smoke that was visible miles away, the Press Enterprise reported. In a video of the blaze, dozens of popping sounds could be heard.