Explosion at Albany business injures two employees, one in critical condition

An explosion at a manufacturing business in southeast Albany Thursday morning left two employees injured, one of them critically. 

Albany Fire Department and Tangent Rural Fire District responded to the fire at Selmet Inc., 33992 Seven Mile Lane, just before 8 a.m. Responders, with over 30 crew members, were able to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion and determine the area was free of chemical hazards. 

Selmet is a titanium casting manufacturer for aerospace parts.

All employees evacuated the building, according to Sandy Roberts of the Albany Fire Department. 

The two injured Selmet employees were taken to Albany General Hospital. One was released and the other was flown by helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. The patient is in critical condition. 

Investigators from Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Tangent Rural Fire and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office are working with Selmet Inc. to determine the cause of the explosion. 

Reach Samantha Hawkins at shawkins@gannett.com or 503-798-1623