UPDATE: Explosion at Oakland, Tennessee munitions plant. Firefighter reported injured. Kinematics Research worker dead.
An explosion around 2:00 this afternoon at a munitions plant known as Kinematics Research in Oakland, Tennessee (about 30 miles northest of Memphis) has left one worker dead and a firefighter injured. A report from the scene indicates the firefighter was hurt after being hit in the head as projectiles continued to explode.
Oakland Police Chief Rick Jewell said one person, an employee, was trapped in the plant after the explosion. Authorities later confirmed that person was killed.
A firefighter was also injured, and transported to a local hospital.
Witnesses reported hearing a series of explosions. Jeremy Heidt, a spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said there also was a fire.
At 2:15 p.m., Jewell said munitions inside the plant were still exploding. A large plume of smoke was billowing from the plant.
