Fowler Associates Labs

Blasts Rock Plant In Pella, Iowa
Could this have been caused by static electricity?

Click here for more information at KCCI TV

Fowler Associates Labs

KCCI TV in Des Moines, Iowa reported that multiple explosions rocked the American Wood Fibers plant in Pella on Sunday.

Two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze and investigators from the fire marshal's office are looking for the cause of the blast.

"You could see a puff of red flame," said Troy Seekamp, a witness. Seekamp works across the street at Four Seasons lawn care.

"Just a big explosion and the top came off and big ball of fire came out," he said.

"Pieces went flying everywhere. They asked people to leave the area; they didn't want anything else to happen," he said.

Klint Korver recalled how the explosion shook his house.

"Sounded like a truck had tipped over -- a loud metallic sound," Korver said.

Vicki Underwood, who works nearby at the Clark Street Pub and Grill, was at home during the blast and called 911.

"There was an explosion at the top part and the bottom part, and fire started shooting out maybe 20 feet," she said.

Underwood said another explosion came a few hours later. "It sounded like a cannon going off." She also said that the blast shot concrete blocks out of the building.

Investigators identified the two injured firefighters as Linn Roose and Danti Kirby. Both firefighters were injured in the second explosion

American Wood Fibers bills itself as the largest producer of wood flour. It has plants nationwide.

An explosion happened at the company's plant in Schofield, Wis. One worker died and another was seriously burned in an explosion and in that fire.

Some employees from Wisconsin had come to work at the Pella plant when the blast happened Sunday, NewsChannel 8 reported. No one from the company returned calls from NewsChannel 8.

Wisconsin investigators said the explosion originated in a machine room.

Kirby is in fair condition at a Des Moines hospital, and Roose was treated and released.

Click below for related links to the American Wood Fibers Plant explosion in Wisconsin

Fatal Explosion in Schofield (Oct. 14, 2005- WAOW 9)

Update on fatal blast at wood plant(Oct. 15, 2005- WAOW 9)

Schofield firefighters battle more than just blaze (Oct. 18, 2005- WOAW 9)

Fatal fire update (Oct. 24, 2005- WOAW 9)

Investigation over in American Wood Fibers fire (Nov. 2, 2005-WOAW 9)