NEW YORK _ Forty people, including seven firefighters, suffered injuries in two explosions and a fire at an upstate New York factory that manufactures nail polish, officials said.
One worker was reportedly missing, officials said.
New Windsor town supervisor George Green said the explosions occurred around 10:19 a.m. local time Monday at the Verla International cosmetics factory.
Green said one firefighter with burns to his face was among the injured. He was taken to the burn unit at Westchester Medical Center.
"Everybody's concerned," Green said. "It's a bad fire, but there's no threat to anything but the building."
He said the crews were still battling the blaze early Monday afternoon. He described it as a chemical fire.
One local who works near the factory said she knew something big had happened by the rush of emergency vehicles along the road.
"Somebody came in and said there's a huge explosion down the street," Lynne Morra, who works at Durants Party Rentals, told Lohud.com. "I went outside, the smoke seemed to die down, then all of a sudden it started up again. It was huge."
Green said fire crews from across Orange County and neighboring counties responded, along with hazardous materials teams. The cause of the blasts and fire has yet to be determined.
Officials said more than 100 people work at the factory, one of the largest employers in the area.
The factory is located about a half-mile from the town hall and police station in New Windsor, 55 miles north of New York City.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent emergency response personnel and resources to the chemical explosion.
"In response to the chemical explosion and fire that occurred this morning in New Windsor, I am directing state emergency response teams to assist local officials in the response efforts in any way necessary," Cuomo said.
"I urge residents in the immediate area to monitor the situation and follow direction from local law enforcement."
State health, police and environmental officials were sent to the scene to monitor any secondary effects from the explosion such as a decline in the air quality. The explosion did not affect the drinking water.
