A powerful explosion sparked a fire at a medical supply business in downtown Montrose that sent five people to a local hospital for care.
The Montrose Fire Protection District was dispatched to a reported explosion at Hartman Brothers on Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters arrived to find fire from the back of the business and initially made an offensive attack to battle the flames, but were forced to transition to defensive operations as conditions worsened, according to a report by the Montrose Press.
Montrose Fire Chief Tad Rowen said crews were focused on preventing the fire from spreading to large oxygen and liquid oxygen tanks located in the businesses back lot.
A Montrose Regional Health spokesperson said they were treating five people. One of the patients was in critical condition, three were in good condition, and one was in fair condition.