Oregon Public Broadcasting

Investigators are trying to determine what caused a massive explosion at an ammunition factory in Bend Wednesday. 

The blast leveled most of a building owned by Nosler Incorporated.  No one was injured.  David Nogueras reports.

Aftermath of an explosion in Bend

Firefighters arrived on scene just in time to see a massive explosion tear though the building. 

The blast sent debris hundreds of yards in all directions.  Much of that now remains tacked to the ground as part of an on-going investigation.

Deputy Fire Marshall Jeff Bond is with the Bend Fire Department.

Jeff Bond: "We had several panels of the wall that collapsed and that’s clearly visible outside the building and a partial roof collapse as well."

Investigators could be seen using a fire ladder to hover over the collapsed building so they could photograph the damage.  They want to determine how compromised the building’s structural integrity is before sending investigators in.

Zach Waterman is a spokesman with Nosler.  He says an employee working in an underground ballistics testing area reported seeing a flash of light before pulling the fire alarm.Nosler had long standing evacuation procedures in place.  The Bend Fire Department says those procedures saved lives.