A late-morning explosion ripped through a building in Sloatsburg on Wednesday, leaving one person seriously hurt and shutting down a key stretch of Route 17 as emergency crews swarmed the scene. Firefighters battled an active structure fire while everyone inside the property was evacuated and traffic ground to a halt in both directions.
Police were called just before 11 a.m., and CBS News New York reports that the injured person was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in serious condition. The outlet’s local coverage, filed from the scene on Wednesday, described an intense response as crews worked to get the situation under control.
Blast Erupts On Orange Turnpike
Ramapo police pinpointed the explosion site as 265 Orange Turnpike in the Village of Sloatsburg. When officers arrived, the building was already engulfed and all occupants were evacuated. Agencies from across Rockland County, including the Rockland County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and several area fire departments, assisted at the scene. Route 17, which had been shut down in both directions, was reopened by mid-afternoon, according to Patch.
Officials Probe Cause Of Explosion
Authorities say the explosion and resulting fire are not currently being treated as suspicious, though the investigation is very much active. Officials have not yet released what caused the blast or identified the injured person. More information is expected as investigators continue to process the scene and piece together what happened inside the Orange Turnpike property.
