Explosions, fire at Timet plant

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998 | 9:23 a.m.

No injuries were reported and officials said the incident resulted in no release of toxic materials.

Timet officials reported an explosion and fire at 12:35 a.m. Units from the Henderson and Clark County fire departments responded.

Molten magnesium escaped a vessel and caught fire when it got into a dust collection system, according to Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach.

The fire reached propane tanks on some fork lift trucks, and those tanks also exploded.

Some 40 employees were working in the area at the time of the incident.

The incident prompted the closing of Lake Mead Boulevard between Highway 95 and Boulder Highway for several hours.

The plant resumed operations about 4 a.m., according to Leinbach.

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