Three people were killed, and one was injured in a fiery explosion at an Ohio auto repair shop on Tuesday, according to local media reports.
The massive blaze broke out at roughly 4 p.m. Jimbo’s Auto Repair located at 502 S. High Street in Hillsboro, Ohio, Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District Chief David Manning said.
While Manning confirmed to local media that there was an explosion at the auto shop, he said as of Tuesday night officials have not determined what caused the blast.
The chief said authorities believe there were four people at the shop when the explosion occurred, with three being confirmed dead. The fourth person was transported from the scene to the hospital and is in stable condition, he said.
The identities of the people killed and the person who was injured have not been released by officials.
DAVID SWANSON/AFP
Newsweek reached out via email and Facebook on Tuesday to the Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District and Jimbo’s Auto Repair for comment on the incident.
Eight fire departments responded to help contain the fire, Manning said, adding that the Ohio Department of Transportation and Hillsboro Police Department also assisted, including with the shutdown of a portion of U.S. Route 62.
No damage was reported to nearby structures as a result of the explosion and blaze, Manning said.
Witnesses on the scene told local station WLWT that the explosion shook the ground from several blocks away.
Journalists for local media stations shared videos and photos of the fiery explosion. on X, formerly Twitter.
WKRC reporter Luke Jones shared a video of the blaze on X, showing flames and thick smoke filling the air.
“Folks in Hillsboro heard an explosion, then saw Jimbo’s Auto Shop go up in flames,” Jones said in the post.
In a subsequent post, Jones shared an image of the fatal fire.
WLWT anchor Sheree Paolello shared a 9-second clip on X of the blast before the fire erupted.
“This could be really bad,” Paolello said in the X post. “We’re getting new video of the fire in Highland County at Jimbo’s Auto Repair shop. You can see an explosion before a massive fire erupts.”
This could be really bad.
We’re getting new video of the fire in Highland County at Jimbo’s Auto Repair shop. You can see an explosion before a massive fire erupts. 3-people are still unaccounted for. 🙏🏼🙏🏼@rhirschheimer will have a full update on @WLWT at 11pm pic.twitter.com/NvG6AhIGwI— Sheree Paolello WLWT (@ShereeWLWT) November 29, 2023
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident and will determine the cause of the fiery explosion.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.