MASSENA (AP) -- An explosion and fire at an Alcoa Inc. plant in northern New York has damaged an aluminum melting furnace but caused no injuries
A spokeswoman for Pittsburgh-based Alcoa tells the Watertown Daily Times that about 60 people were evacuated after the melter malfunctioned at about 3 p.m. Thursday in the village of Massena. The fire was declared under control several hours later.
A witness tells the newspaper she heard loud boom and her house shook before her volunteer firefighter husband headed to the scene.
Clouds of dark smoke rose from the structure in the middle of the large ingot casting plant. Alcoa is a major employer in the community on the St. Lawrence River 160 miles northwest of Albany.
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