corn mill

Fatal Injuries Reported in Wisconsin Corn Mill Explosion

Dan Corn, Industry News Release

corn mill

Photo via @deafgeoff

At least one is dead and others missing as of Thursday afternoon following an explosion at a Wisconsin corn mill. Two workers remained missing Thursday after the explosion at the Didion (did-e-an) Milling facility in Cambria, Wisconsin. Sixteen employees were working at the facility Wednesday night where an explosion and large fire occurred in the corn mill, not the adjacent ethanol plant that Didion Milling also owns. USA Today reports the facility was destroyed and at least a dozen of the 16 workers were injured. There’s no word yet on whether the explosion was caused by grain dust, a common factor in similar instances. However, grain dust explosions at grain handling facilities are at a ten year low, according to a study by Purdue University released in February of this year. According to the company’s website, construction on the Cambria corn mill was completed in 1991. It’s corn products are used in brewing beer, making chips, breakfast cereals, bathroom moldings and ethanol.

From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.

Image Credit: Wisconsin plant explosion: 1 dead, 2 missing at Didion corn mill in  courtesy of Geoff ‘DeafGeoff’ Herbert @deafgeoff