At least 13 people have been injured after a massive industrial fire led to an explosion at the Parker Lord Corporation in Saegertown, Crawford County, around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb 9. Fire officials were called to the plant on South Street after an automatic fire alarm went off within the facility.

A temporary shelter-in-place order was ordered for residents in the area as crews fought the flames. This order lasted for several hours, being lifted after the fire was contained. Crews were monitoring and maintaining “hot spots,” throughout the affected area, throughout Sunday afternoon.

Chuck Lawrence of the Saegertown Borough Emergency Management said five Saegertown firefighters, one Edinboro firefighter, and seven plant employees were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

“It’s really lucky that there weren’t any fatalities on this because of the extent of the explosion,” Lawrence stated.

There was said to be no major concern about the explosion impacting the community or the air quality.

The Parker Lord Corporation in Saegertown is the largest plant specializing in chemicals, adhesives, and coatings within LORD with more than 235 employees. The 250,000-square-foot facility underwent an $80 million expansion in 2023, adding 75,000 square feet to the facility.

A statement from the Parker Lord Corporation said once an investigation is complete, the company will reevaluate and continue to prioritize safety for their employees. Parker Lord Corp. also thanked local authorities for their support and sent well wishes to those injured. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was called to the scene and is currently investigating.