Roof of biochemical plant blown off in Leominster

[NVMojo]

LEOMINSTER -- An explosion blew off the roof of a biochemical building yesterday, injuring one employee and sending debris flying at least 100 yards from the site, officials said.

Residents in about 10 nearby houses were evacuated after the 4:15 p.m. explosion in the small industrial building at 28 Elm Hill Ave., on the PolyCarbon Industries Inc. campus, said a spokeswoman for Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella.

While most residents had returned to their homes by 10 p.m., Claire Freda, ward councilor for the area, expressed concern that the blast was the second at the plant to trigger an evacuation since 1997.

''People are displaced again," she said. ''This is a close-knit neighborhood, and this really affects them."

Neighbors said they could feel the explosion.

''All of a sudden the whole house shook," said college student Jeffrey Walsh, who was visiting a friend about a quarter-mile from the company. ''We thought someone hit his house. We looked up in the sky and there was a bunch of black smoke."

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/23/roof_of_biochemical_plant_blown_off_in_leominster/