An explosion Wednesday morning at a Denver asphalt business sent pieces of machinery flying into the air, company officials said.
No one was injured in the blast that occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. at Burkholder Paving, 75 Kurtz Road.
Burkholder Paving is a division of Martin Limestone Inc. of Ephrata.
Company spokesman Paul Stoltzfus said the explosion appeared to have occurred in a drag line, an enclosed conveyor that transports hot asphalt from mixing units on the ground to a structure that loads the material into four silos.
The explosion ignited material and machinery atop the silos, he said.
Stoltzfus said the explosion blew off some of the drag line's access doors, which landed within the Burkholder property.
"We were definitely blessed that no one was hurt," he said.
Stoltzfus said the plant is typically operated by three employees, but a few additional workers were there Wednesday.
Reamstown fire Chief Harvey Achey said it took about an hour to bring the fire under control. He said fire crews remained at the scene for about five hours.
No damage estimate was available Wednesday, although Stoltzfus said he expects the total to reach "into the tens of thousands."
He said officials will likely complete an assessment today with the plant expected to resume operations within 2 to 3 days.