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Radford explosion under investigation

Posted at 8:41 PM, May 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-05-28 00:27:57-04

RADFORD, Va. (WTVR) - The explosion happened the Grede Radford Foundry early Sunday morning when one of the furnaces blew up and then the rubber roofing caught on fire.

The Roanoke Times reports there was a piece of metal that went through the roof and that the building was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived.  The fire was out by 2:17 a.m.

Lee Simpkins, the Radford Fire Chief, told the Roanoke Times that the blast might have been caused by moisture getting under molten rock, but he says it is too soon to tell.

Ten people were inside at the time, but no one was hurt.