Probe Looks at Cause of Iowa Explosions

Firefighters in Waterloo, Iowa, are trying to determine what caused explosions and a fire that destroyed a construction company’s workshop and several vehicles.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says workers at Midwest General Construction had just left the building after welding when there was a loud explosion late Monday evening.

Co-owner Paolo Troiano said he had just fitted vehicles for snow removal.

His daughter says she was inside the home across the yard from the workshop when she heard an explosion, looked out the window and noticed flames. Several other small explosions followed, apparently from fuel tanks in the building.

Waterloo Fire Battalion Chief Mike Jenn says crews found the metal building engulfed when they arrived. The blaze claimed a backhoe, a boat, two motorcycles, two trucks and countless tools.