Exeter emergency services responded to a serious industrial incident on Monday afternoon after an explosion and subsequent fire at the Sig Sauer manufacturing site on 18 Industrial Drive.
What happened
Exeter Fire Department received reports shortly before 4pm of an explosion inside the factory. Firefighters, supported by Sig Sauer's own safety teams, brought the resulting fires under control. One worker sustained burn injuries and was taken by air ambulance to a Boston-area hospital for further treatment.
Response and immediate impact
- Fire crews attended the scene and worked alongside the company’s safety staff to extinguish fires.
- The injured employee was flown to hospital by helicopter for specialised care.
- Exeter Fire Department is conducting an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Sig Sauer, which has its headquarters in Newington, issued a statement thanking local first responders for their quick action and saying the company would "examine what caused this incident" while focusing on assisting its team.
"We will examine what caused this incident and right now are focused on assisting our team,"
Context and local consequences
The factory sits within the local industrial area and employs members of the community; an event of this nature raises questions about workplace safety, hazardous-material storage and future operations at the site. The company has previously experienced a separate explosion and fire in 2025 at an ammunition facility in Arkansas, which media reports said caused no injuries.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Shortly before 4pm | Explosion reported; Exeter Fire Department alerted |
| Afternoon | Fires extinguished by fire crews and company safety teams |
| Afterward | Worker airlifted to Boston-area hospital; investigation ongoing |
Officials have not publicly released the injured person's identity or condition beyond confirming serious burns and hospital transfer. The fire department has indicated its probe will examine the involvement of stored titanium in the explosion.
For residents, the priority will be reassurance that the site is secure and that measures are in place to prevent further incidents. The ongoing investigation by Exeter Fire Department, together with any internal inquiry undertaken by Sig Sauer, should clarify the immediate causes and whether changes to storage or safety procedures are required.
InfoRadar will continue to follow developments and report any updates from emergency services or the company about the injured worker’s condition and the outcome of the investigation.
