Watch CBS News

One Injured In Explosion At Strip District Distilling Company

Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter

STRIP DISTRICT (KDKA) -- One person was injured in an explosion at a Strip District distilling company late Thursday morning.

It happened just before 11 a.m. at Wigle Whiskey Distillery in the 2400 block of Smallman Street.

A still used in preparing the whiskey exploded, knocking a worker backwards a few feet. The worker reportedly had some cuts and bruises and was taken to the hospital.

"It's about 15 feet tall, at least 8 feet in diameter, and the explosion, the force rocked it off its mountings and moved it about 12 feet, so it was a substantial explosion, substantial force," Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Chief Darryl Jones said.

Meredith Meyer Grelli, co-owner of the Wigle Whiskey Distillery, says the distillery's ethanol monitors did "not document an explosion and our understanding was there was no ignition."

She says the worker who was injured is doing well and experienced "surface injuries."

Investigators are still trying to figure out how and why the incident happened.

Further details have not yet been released.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.