http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/06/milwaukee.fire.ap/index.html

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A possible leak in a large propane tank might
have caused an explosion which flattened an industrial warehouse near
downtown Milwaukee, authorities said.

The blast at Falk Corp factory killed at least three people and injured 37,
authorities said.

Cars were flipped and debris was hurled into the air. Dozens of workers were
evacuated from the plant, which makes large industrial gears and couplings.

Burning rubble spread over several blocks.

"It sounded like when I was in Vietnam, incoming mortar rounds," said worker
David L. Mays, 61, a tear rolling down his cheek. "But I'm OK."

The blast knocked him down and turned over his car, he said.

Fire officials had not determined the cause of the blast, but Mays said the
company began to evacuate workers after a leak occurred in one of six large
propane tanks. (Watch flames devour building, destroy cars )

He said he and others were outside when one of the tanks blew up.

As of Wednesday afternoon, hours after the blast, authorities had yet to
account for all of the plant's employees.

Falk employs about 700 people in Milwaukee.

Company spokeswoman Linda Mayer said she did not know how many people were
in the plant at the time.

Machinist Jim McGraw, 53, said a co-worker warned him about a minute before
the blast that he could smell gas, but McGraw did not think much about it
because the building normally smells of solvents and other chemicals.

Then the explosion knocked him to the ground.

"I didn't know what it was at first, just a loud bang," McGraw said.

He looked around and saw co-workers with blood on their faces.

He grabbed a rag and tied it around his arm, which had a puncture wound.

McGraw was taken to a hospital, where doctors removed a piece of a glass
from his skull.

As many as 120 firefighters and paramedics responded to the fire, along with
hazardous materials crews.

The flames were largely extinguished within three hours.

The explosion destroyed Falk's warehouse and numerous cars and damaged
several other buildings in the complex, fire Lt. Brian O'Connor said, adding
that the blast could be felt at a firehouse about a mile and a half away.

Mayor Tom Barrett said the company had a clean safety record.

The factory was last inspected in September and "any violations were
corrected on the spot," he said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent a team to
investigate.

Construction crews working on buildings in the surrounding area were sent
home because of smoke from the fire.


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