UPDATE: Friday, 10:47 a.m. EDT—Colonel Stephen Ledbetter announced in a statement released on Friday morning that one person died as a result of injuries sustained during the explosion. Two other employees remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
"The entire Letterkenny family is mourning this loss," Ledbetter added. "We continue to keep the families and all of our teammates in our hearts and prayers."
UPDATE: 2:34 p.m. EDT—Colonel Stephen Ledbetter said in a press conference that the depot's lead safety investigator is leading the investigation efforts and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is on site. The building where the incident occurred will remain closed to workers until at least third shift on Sunday. The rest of the depot will continue with normal operations.
UPDATE: 10:42 a.m. EDT—Colonel Stephen Ledbetter said in a news conference streamed by WGAL on Thursday that the small explosion and subsequent fire occurred in the paint area of building 350 and terrorist activity is not suspected.
A total of four employees were evacuated—three were airlifted and one was transported by ground—to hospitals for treatment. "Certainly our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time," Ledbetter told reporters.
An internal investigation is being conducted into the cause of the incident, and Ledbetter didn't confirm if the injuries are life-threatening, though he said that since three of the four injured people were evacuated by medevac, he would classify them as serious.
No ammunition was in the paint area.
UPDATE: 9:18 a.m. EDT—Three people sustained priority-one burn injuries in the explosion, according to a Facebook post by Pleasant Hall Volunteer Fire Company, which handled one of the patients. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group describes a priority-one injury as being "life or limb threatening" with an immediate need for evacuation.
Original Story: On Thursday, an explosion in the industrial area of Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, resulted in multiple injuries that required employees to be transported to a medical facility for treatment.
The Letterkenny Army Depot posted on Facebook that there was an explosion in the industrial area at building 350. Three people, who were injured during the explosion, were airlifted from the depot to a medical facility, according to Fox News. The incident was contained, and the Army depot said that it won't affect depot operations or workforce safety outside of where the incident occurred.
"There were injuries that fire and emergency services have treated and individuals have been transported to medical facilities," the post added.
In a separate Facebook post, the Army depot told employees to remain at their work areas, and anyone who was outside the main gate should not attempt to enter.
Fire crews, rescue crews, and multiple medical helicopters responded to the scene shortly after 7:15 a.m., when the incident occurred, according to WGAL.
Letterkenny Army Depot has 3,600 employees and is the largest employer in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, according to its website.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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