Rescue crews and investigators worked amid charred wreckage and damaged homes Wednesday as a Tennessee community moved from immediate rescue toward recovery and accountability following a deadly blast at an explosives plant. Emergency officials said search-and-rescue operations were tapering to recovery efforts, while state and federal investigators began the complex task of determining what caused the detonation and whether safety lapses contributed.

"The scene is still active," a county emergency management official told CBS News. "Our priority is recovering the missing and supporting survivors. Once that is complete, investigators will take over to establish what happened." The official said residents were being offered temporary shelter, counseling and assistance navigating claims for damage to homes and property.

Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined local law-enforcement and state emergency teams, officials said. Company representatives said operations at the site were suspended and they were cooperating with authorities. Officials did not provide a definitive timeline for when a full technical review might conclude.

The explosion, which authorities say emanated from a facility that manufactures blasting agents and related materials, damaged scores of nearby structures and rattled a wider conversation about regulatory oversight in a sector dealing with inherently hazardous materials. Labor advocates and some lawmakers immediately called for hearings on enforcement and inspection regimes, contending the blast highlights longstanding pressure on regulators amid competing priorities.

"This tragic event underscores the need for rigorous oversight and the resources to carry it out," an organizer with a national worker-safety group said in a statement. "Families deserve answers, and communities deserve assurance that risks are being managed."

Tennessee state officials pledged transparency. A TEMA spokeswoman told CBS News that the state would publish information as it became available and coordinate with federal partners. Local leaders said they were preparing to convene public meetings to address community concerns, allow residents to ask questions, and ensure that recovery funds reach those affected.

The incident is also already filtering into political debate. State lawmakers representing the district called for expedited review of permitting and emergency-preparedness requirements for facilities handling explosive compounds, while some conservative legislators cautioned against overreaching regulation that could harm local industry and jobs. Analysts said that in districts where manufacturing is a major employer, such events can shape voter priorities around workplace safety, emergency funding and economic development.

For residents living near the plant, the focus remains immediate: health checks for possible exposure, structural assessments for homes, and closure for families who lost loved ones. Volunteer groups and faith organizations have mobilized donation drives and counseling hotlines.

As investigators assemble a timeline of events, the presence of multiple federal agencies signals a probe that could extend for months and, depending on findings, result in regulatory recommendations, fines, or criminal referrals. In the meantime, the blast has reignited a national conversation about how best to balance industrial activity and community safety, and whether current inspection and enforcement frameworks are fit for the risks posed by modern explosives manufacturing.