An explosion at an asphalt facility in southeast Fresno injured an employee Tuesday morning, according to the Fresno Fire Department.

Firefighters were called shortly after 7 a.m. to the Martin Marietta Fresno Asphalt facility in the 2000 block of East Central Avenue near Cedar Avenue after callers reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing smoke coming from the facility.

Fire officials said the explosion occurred near the top of one of the facility’s large elevated silos.

Two employees were working on top of the silo when the explosion occurred and were able to make their way down without assistance. One employee suffered second-degree burns and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Firefighters remained at the facility as the silo was emptied, monitoring the material inside to make sure there were no hidden fires or smoldering hot spots.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

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