LA HABRA, Calif. — Authorities now say 11 people were hurt — three critically — in an explosion and fire at a Southern California metal polishing business.
Los Angeles County fire Inspector Keith Mora says the blast in La Habra occurred shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday in the shop’s overhead ducts. He says investigators suspect that a buildup of lint or dust in the system may have caused the blast.
Firefighters contained the resulting blaze in about 40 minutes.
Mora says two of the injured had burns and the rest suffered smoke inhalation or other injuries.
The building in a Los Angeles suburb houses a metal-plating and polishing firm.
TV news reports showed workers, some with blackened faces, outside the plant.
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