At least two hurt in Glendale Heights explosion

At least two people were injured Monday morning in an explosion and fire inside Northstar Metal Products Inc., a metal fabricating plant in Glendale Heights.

Bloomingdale Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Janus said firefighters responded at 11:56 a.m. to a report of an explosion and arrived to find smoke pouring from the rear of the building at 591 Mitchell Drive.

Authorities were working to determine what caused the explosion, but preliminary indications are it was a combination of a piece of machinery and shavings from a metal fabricating process.

An employee who asked not to be named said it appeared aluminum dust in the company’s grinding room may have ignited to trigger the explosion. He said he heard a loud noise and saw a lot of flames.

Janus said one employee was transported to Adventist GlenOaks Hospital in Glendale Heights with injuries that were not life-threatening. A second employee was treated at the scene.

Witnesses also saw a firefighter being placed in an ambulance.

The fire was brought under control relatively quickly, Janus said. But firefighters worked inside the building for several hours dealing with “hot spots.”

There were no signs of foul play, authorities said, and damage estimates weren’t available.

Glen Ellyn Road was closed between Gregory Avenue and Windy Point Drive until about 3 p.m., officials said.

Janus said eight fire engines, four trucks and five ambulances responded to the scene.