Three People Hospitalized After Explosion At Affival Inc. Facility In Plum

PLUM (KDKA) -- A hazmat situation in Plum Borough sent three people to the hospital Saturday afternoon.

According to the Unity Volunteer Fire Department, workers inside the Affival Inc. facility were dealing with a combination of titanium and calcium powder, two hazardous chemicals, officials said.

A machine with both of these chemicals inside caught on fire and exploded, according to fire officials.

The three workers who were transported to the hospital were treated for non-life threatening inhalation related injuries.

Officials told KDKA about a dozen people were inside of the facility at the time and evacuated.

Chief Glenn Kopec of the Unity VFD said: "They were able to call Allegheny County Dispatch, as we were coming in, we had the dispatchers looking up the chemicals for us and hazards to be aware of."

Officials told KDKA, the machine's suppressor system did kick in helping prevent the spread of the fire.

Crews had the fire contained in about 45 minutes and were not able to use water, officials said.

"It reacts very violently with water so if you put any water on it things get a lot worse a lot faster," said Chief Kopec.

The Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of this fire.