PALESTINE, ILL. — An early morning explosion Monday at an agricultural products plant in Crawford County, Ill., caused homes to shake up to a mile away.
No one was hurt in the “flash fire” blast at Lincolnland Agri-Energy on the west side of Palestine, a company official said.
“I felt a slight rattle,” said Kathy Fuller, a resident of Palestine who lives about one mile from the facility. She also heard the explosion clearly, she said.
The cause of the blast is still under investigation, said Eric Mosbey, general manager of the facility.
The explosion, which occurred about 4 a.m., involved one of the dryers used to dry distillers grains, which is a grain seed product made at the plant, Mosbey said. The plant was closed Monday while a team of investigators worked to determine what caused the blast, he said.
“We’re keeping everyone out until we have a better handle on what we have,” Mosbey said. The explosion badly damaged the dryer and also caused damage to the building in which the dryer is located, he said.
Different sections of the plant not involved in the explosion could reopen before the entire facility opens, Mosbey said.
Lincolnland Agri-Energy, which employs 38 people, makes ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, according to the company’s Web site. The plant converts corn starch into sugar, which produces ethanol fuel.
Each year, the company produces about 48 million gallons of fuel, 143,000 tons of livestock feed and 1.2 million gallons of corn oil, according to the Web site.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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