(Update 11:22-a.m.)

Initial reports of two oxy-acetylene torches exploding this morning at Weirich Welding Plus in Lewis turned out not to be the case. The Cass County Communications Center dispatched Lewis Fire at around 10:10-a.m. with a report two of the tanks had exploded. 

KJAN News arrived on the scene at around 10:30-a.m., and learned from an employee that another employee was cutting some iron when the gaseous combination of oxygen and acetylene began leaking out of a hose and caused a loud “bang.” A flame then shot out of the torch about 10-feet, according to the employee, who did not wish to be identified.

There was no explosion, and no one was injured. The employee told KJAN News the only damage was a mess created when they used a fire extinguisher to put out the small amount of visible flames.