Explosions Hit Toledo Recycling Plant, 2 Workers Unaccounted For

Two explosions ripped through an industrial recycling plant in Toledo, Ohio, early Tuesday morning, sparking a large fire that sent crews of emergency responders racing to the scene and left two workers unaccounted for, officials said.

Blasts Strike During Shift Change

The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department said two explosions occurred at Brent Industries shortly before 5 a.m., during a shift change at the facility. Television news video captured fire engines surrounding the building as flames and thick dark smoke poured from the structure.

Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said crews were still battling a major blaze at the site around 7:30 a.m. and that at least half the building had collapsed by that point. She said there was no preliminary indication of what caused the Toledo Ohio explosion Brent Industries recycling fire 2026 incident.

Two Workers Unaccounted For, Others Sustain Minor Injuries

Armstrong said authorities were unable to immediately confirm the status of the two missing workers. “It was not immediately clear whether the two workers who were unaccounted for were OK and just not answering their phones,” she said, noting both had been seen inside the building before the blasts. Several other workers sustained minor injuries.

“We’re working to contain the fire and account for all the employees right now,” Armstrong said.

Authorities urged the public to avoid the area as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

About Brent Industries

Brent Industries is a textile reconditioning and industrial recycling company founded in Brent, Alabama, in 1977. The company offers services aimed at reducing industrial waste and cutting costs for business customers, according to its website. It has operations both in its home state of Alabama and in Toledo. A phone message left for the company was not immediately returned.