— A sole worker died Friday after an explosion at a manufacturer of wastewater treatment chemicals in Nash County, the Middlesex chief of police said.

A fire tank exploded at Pencco, Inc., on U.S. Highway 264-A in Middlesex, at around 9:30 a.m., according to the fire marshal.

Police on Monday identified the victim as Dale Bachman.

Police, firefighters and hazardous materials personnel responded to the incident. By late afternoon they still had not determined the cause of the deadly accident.

"There's a family that's suffering today – the day after Thanksgiving – and we want to remember them, that's the main thing," said Lee Waddell, who was working nearby.

Terry Munson said he was startled when the explosion happened. He lives a quarter of a mile from the plant.

"I was in the living room watching television, and I heard a big bang," he said. "It blew the door open a little bit."

"A lot of people around here know Dale," Munson said. "Real outgoing guy and the nicest fellow you ever want to meet."

The explosion could be heard and felt in communities from Zebulon to Spring Hope to Bailey, and people chimed in on Facebook to wonder what caused it.

Waddell did more than hear and feel the explosion. From where he was working nearby, he could see the smoke plume.

"We actually thought something was wrong with our building because the whole roof shook," he said. "We all ducked down, looked at each other and ran out."

Pencco's corporate offices are in Texas. The company also has a location in California.

Bachman was a regular at Rossa's grill, known affectionately as Mr. Dale.

"Sometimes there would be people in here, they wouldn't have enough money for their food," employee Dee Dee Wilson said. "Mr. Dale would sit right there in that corner and wave and say 'I've got it.'"

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has taken over the investigation.

"I feel sorry for his family and everything like that," Munson said. "A whole lot of people in this town lost a good friend."

The Middlesex police chief told WRAL they expect to have more information on what caused the explosion early next week.