updates
>>Officials said 15 people were injured. Police said two of the injuries were serious, and those two were flown from the scene. NHBB officials said they were told the injuries were not life-threatening.
Steve Bourgeois of Peterborough Collision, which he said is about 200-300 feet from New Hampshire Ball Bearings, said he heard two explosions at about 3:30 p.m.
“It shook our building, shook the plate glass in our showroom,” he said.
The Peterborough police chief said the explosion happened on the first floor of the plant, and the windows were blown out.
Crews from more than a dozen towns, including about 100 firefighters, were headed to the scene. There was no smoke or flames showing from the building.
Eight ambulances were called to the area, and local hospitals were asked to stage for possible hazmat patients. Fire officials said there were chemicals in the building, but they didn’t know what the chemicals were.
Police advised drivers to avoid Route 202.
NHBB manufactures precision bearings used in the aerospace industry, in the defense industry and for dental applications, among others. It was founded in 1946 in Peterborough and now has three manufacturing facilities across the country.
Media...PUH-LEEZE.