BEND, Ore. (AP) — A bullet plant in Bend has been evacuated after an explosion and fire. Fire officials say a worker who smelled smoke pulled an alarm, and everybody got out before the explosion minutes later.
About 100 people work at the Nosler Inc. plant founded in the 1940s. Company officials say all are accounted for.
A company spokesman said he was told work was under way in the ballistics tunnel, a testing area for ammunition, when there was a flash, followed by an explosion.
Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Bond says 10 percent of the 80,000-square-foot building collapsed.
The blast about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday shook the ground and rattled windows blocks away.
