Processing Equipment Explodes at Michigan Asphalt Plant

Firefighters were called to a report of a “loud explosion” at the Reith-Riley Construction asphalt plant in Ludington, MI on Tuesday morning, according to fire officials and local news reports. 

Some people heard or felt the explosion from miles away from the plant, coverage by the Mason County Press said. Crews responded to the incident at about 5:30 a.m.

“Upon arrival crews found nothing, and began searching,” Pare Marquette Township Fire Department said in a Facebook post. “Cause was a gas leak, personnel checked the area and found no further issues.”

A fire official told the Ludington Daily News that processing machinery was involved in the blast.

“The leak caused an explosion in the company’s processing equipment and caused a decent amount of damage to their asphalt machine,” Pare Marquette Fire Chief Larry Gaylord said in the newspaper. 

No injuries were logged during the incident. 

Reith-Riley is a supplier of asphalt, aggregate and recycled materials and a provider of asphalt paving, concrete construction and paving, and site preparation and excavation services. 

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