Heat-Related Explosion at Three Rivers FS in Manchester

A heat-related explosion happened at Three Rivers FS on the south side of Manchester on Wednesday afternoon.

The City says it appears one anhydrous tank overheated and exploded at the plant, knocking over another anhydrous tank. Officials are still working to determine exactly what happened.

The Manchester Fire Department was on the scene for several hours, working to contain the situation. Multiple city officials tell KMCH the anhydrous dissipated quickly. Some of the equipment at Three Rivers FS was damaged.

Initially, no injuries were reported as the situation unfolded on Wednesday afternoon, but an update from Delaware County Emergency Management on Wednesday night confirms four people were transported to Regional Medical Center in Manchester by private vehicle. Three people were treated and released, while one person was admitted to the hospital. Emergency Management says the total number of treated people increased to six by Thursday morning.

People south of Grant Street on the west side of the Maquoketa River were asked to shelter in place – that area included around 50 households, a couple major manufacturing plants and possibly a childcare center. The City lifted the shelter-in-place advisory about an hour later, with people able to leave the buildings.

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