DENVER — Four people were injured – one critically – in an explosion Wednesday afternoon in downtown Montrose, on Colorado's Western Slope, according to the Montrose Fire Protection District.
The incident happened at the Hartman Brothers medical supply business on Main Street, in the town that sits about one hour southeast of Grand Junction.
Four patients were taken to a hospital. As of Wednesday evening, two were in good condition, one fair, and one in critical condition, the fire agency said.
Montrose Fire Chief Tad Rowan believed the people injured were Hartman Brothers employees.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation, the fire agency said Thursday.
Video from the Montrose Daily Press showed flames and a large plume of dark smoke at the scene. The fire was under control as of the evening. The fire department said around 8 p.m. that they had secured the scene.
Crews turned off natural gas and power because of the explosion, and police evacuated people nearby.
“We lost a building, but we saved a block,” Rowan said. “I am proud of the quick work of our responders in immediately providing protection to the other flammable gases on site. This plan of attack limited the damage to the structure and the area. Our hearts go out to the individuals impacted by today’s incident, and to our community for the fire damage to a historic downtown building. I am grateful to our local and regional agencies that assisted with today’s response.”
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