OCALA, Fla. — Four people were injured, with two hospitalized, after an explosion at a laundromat in Ocala on Tuesday night.
Ocala Fire Rescue got reports of an explosion around 6:19 p.m. with multiple units going to Classic Laundromat at 1423 NE 25th Ave. Rescue crews found a shopping center up in flames with smoke coming from the laundromat, according to a post by the Ocala Fire Rescue.
Crews conducted search and rescue operations to make sure everyone was out, and firefighters went inside to extinguish the fire. Four people were injured in the incident, and two went to the hospital for further medical attention, the post read.
The building that housed the laundromat and seven other stores was destroyed, fire officials said. Pictures show debris scattered in front of the building, doors off the entrance's hinges and a wall of washers and dryers completely exposed as remnants of the roof hang down.
The shopping center was gutted, and pictures show the wooden skeleton and metal scraps from the structure all over the scene.
The explosion disrupted traffic while first responders managed the scene. Multiple agencies helped, including the Ocala Police Department, Ocala Electric Utility, Ocala Water Resources, Ocala Building Department, Marion County Fire Rescue and TECO Gas.
The State Fire Marshal's office and Ocala Fire Rescue inspectors are investigating the cause of the explosion.
