East Providence Fire Department Provides Update Following Wednesday Night Industrial Explosion

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Fire Department is providing an update following an industrial incident at the Aspen Aerogels facility at 3 Dexter Road in East Providence on Wednesday, April 8.

Through a coordinated overnight effort between the East Providence Fire Department and facility management, the damaged areas within the building have been stabilized. These actions addressed immediate hazards and allowed the site to be secured for evaluation.

All facility personnel that were transported to area hospitals last night were evaluated and released as of 3 a.m., Thursday, April 9.

Company officials have continued to work collaboratively with public safety and regulatory partners throughout the response and stabilization process.

A comprehensive post-incident evaluation is now underway in coordination with the Fire Department, Building Inspector’s Office and regulatory partners.

This evaluation will include an assessment of the affected area and critical systems, as well as a review of response efforts and the initiation of the facility’s emergency plans.

The review of the emergency plans will seek to identify best practices and any response gaps, with the goal of enhancing safety for facility personnel, public safety responders, and the community.

Operations at the facility remain paused pending the outcome of these assessments.

An investigation by the East Providence Fire Department and Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office is ongoing.

“Thanks to the coordinated work of our firefighters, facility personnel and partner agencies, crews were able to stabilize the building and ensure there was no ongoing danger to the public,” said Chief Michael P. Carey. “We will continue working with investigators and facility officials as the post-incident review moves forward.”

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