Investigators: Chemicals in heating oven sparked fire that destroyed part of Detroit factory

September 16th, 2009 Discarded factory chemicals kill 3 in east ChinaSHANGHAI — Three people have died and an additional 17 required medical treatment after they were exposed to bags of a toxic chemical illegally dumped by a factory in eastern China, the local government said Wednesday. Four of the people sickened were children who played near the chemical, 2,4-dinitrophenol — a poison used in scientific research and in manufacturing various chemicals, explosives and pesticides, according to a statement by the government in Dongyang, a city 250 kilometers (160 miles) southwest of Shanghai.

September 3rd, 2009 LOS ANGELES - The massive fire that has burned more than 58,000 hectares around Los Angeles was sparked by arson, California authorities said. Two firefighters were killed while battling the blaze, and police have now launched homicide investigations, officials said Thursday.

August 25th, 2009 DETROIT — Explosions and a fire at a chemical factory Monday forced firefighters to evacuate employees and police to caution nearby residents to stay inside their homes. Several explosions were heard from inside Diversified Chemical Technologies Inc., where dense black smoke billowed from the blaze that began about 2:30 p.m.

August 25th, 2009 Fire at Detroit chemical factory is extinguishedDETROIT — Authorities say firefighters have put out the blaze at a Detroit chemical factory that had forced employees and nearby businesses to evacuate. Fire officials say no one was injured in the fire at Diversified Chemical Technologies Inc.

August 12th, 2009 GM to assemble Volt battery packs in BrownstownDETROIT — General Motors Co. has confirmed it will assemble battery packs for its new rechargeable electric car at a new factory in southeastern Michigan.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Four labourers were burnt to death Wednesday when the footwear factory they worked in was gutted in west Delhi, police said. Two men were working and five were sleeping in the factory in Sultanpur area at 4.30 a.m.

July 17th, 2009 Investigators say Maine mill fire was arsonLEWISTON, Maine — Investigators say a fire that swept through a historic textile mill in Maine's second-largest city was a case of arson. Maine Public Safety Department spokesman Steve McCausland says fire marshal investigators reached the conclusion working with Lewiston police and fire officials and investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

July 17th, 2009 2 injured in an explosion at a Chicago factoryCHICAGO — Two people have been injured in an explosion at a factory in Chicago that sent bricks and debris flying hundreds of feet in the air. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says the 9 a.m.

July 17th, 2009 Police: 1 injured in explosion at Chicago factoryCHICAGO — Police say at least one person has been injured in an explosion at a factory on the west side of Chicago. Police Officer Robert Perez says the explosion happened just before 9 a.m.

July 15th, 2009 PARIS - At least two people were killed and five injured Wednesday in an explosion at a chemicals factory in northeastern France belonging to the Total oil company, i-tele television reported. An unknown number of people were reported missing and were feared buried under the debris.

June 23rd, 2009 GURGAON - The Adidas factory on Delhi-Gurgaon National Highway-8 was gutted in a fire Tuesday. There were no casualties, a fire official said.

June 17th, 2009 13 school buses damaged or destroyed in NJ fireSOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Thirteen yellow school buses have been damaged or destroyed in a suspicious fire at a New Jersey yard.

June 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - One person was killed and 12 others were injured when a fire broke out in a paint factory here Sunday, police said. The fire broke out after a boiler exploded in the paint factory in Okhla Phase II in south Delhi at 2 a.m.

June 3rd, 2009 NALAGARH - Five people, including two fire brigade personnel, were killed in a fire that broke out in a factory in this Himachal Pradesh town Wednesday, police said. At least four workers of the factory, which made electrical appliances, were missing and a police officer feared that if they were trapped inside the premises they would be dead.

May 11th, 2009 77 homes destroyed in Santa Barbara fireSANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Authorities now say 77 homes have been destroyed in the Santa Barbara County wildfire, more than doubling the previous figure of 31.