An explosion at a Millersburg rare metal refinery tied up all four Albany ambulances early Saturday and sent four to area hospitals, two with reportedly critical injuries.
Someone called 911 around 5:30 a.m. Oct. 1 to report an explosion near a furnace at ATI Specialty Alloys & Components, still commonly known by its former name Wah Chang.
Albany Fire Department crews cut off electricity, gas and water to a building where responders believe workers at the site were attempting to fix a water leak in a furnace.
“It sounds like maintenance was happening at the time,” said Sandy Roberts, a deputy fire marshal.
Roberts said ATI employees assured firefighters the explosion involved no hazardous chemicals. “They were told it was safe to go in,” Roberts said.