A truck has exploded near the El Paso airport, injuring numerous people, and creating a huge plume of smoke.
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Just after 1 pm a truck exploded, injuring several people. As the blaze grew, it spread to the nearby building. Police and emergency crews responded to the fire quickly. A large cloud of black smoke could be seen drifting close to the El Paso airport.
When they arrived on the scene, it was discovered that a total of seven people had been injured in the explosion and fire. Four of these had to be transported to the nearby hospital. However, the emergency was far from over.
The Sun Metro Transit Operations Center quickly became engulfed in the growing flames. The El Paso area is particularly dry, and emergency services are overly cautious about fires.
Fire Fighters Fought The El Paso Blaze
The blaze that came as a result of the truck explosion was a category four. This deems it a danger to surrounding areas with a possibility of spreading. Over 100 firefighters attended the blaze in an attempt to keep it under control.
While the fire burned, the Sun Metro Transit Operations Center became gradually more unstable. Despite the efforts of the fire teams, the roof and walls collapsed. With the continued efforts of the fire teams, they eventually managed to get the blaze under control.
Now, the emergency services are searching the location for possible hot spots, and possibilities of reignition. But, for the time being, the El Paso fire is under control.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be the truck explosion. However, why and how the truck actually exploded are still under investigation. At this point, the details released about the fire and truck explosion at El Paso are limited.
"Our primary focus is on containing the fire and the safety of our staff," Acosta has said about the fire. "We want to extend our sincere gratitude to our first responders for their swift action in addressing the situation."
As the fire is completely subdued, and the rubble cools, investigations can begin. A thorough investigation will have to be made as to just how a fire can break out so quickly.
