Firefighter dies in explosion at Iowa ADM plant

One person is dead and another seriously injured after a grain bin fire resulted in an explosion Saturday morning at an ADM plant in Clinton, Iowa.

(Freefood | Freeimages.com)
(Freefood | Freeimages.com)

One Eastern Iowa firefighter was killed and another was seriously injured when an explosion occurred at the Clinton, Iowa, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) plant last weekend.

“Clinton Fire Chief Mike Brown said the initial fire call came in around 5:45 a.m. Saturday," according to a report from the Clinton Herald. "ADM employees had discovered smoldering material in one of the silo storage bins at the loading facility. ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson said the employees immediately contacted the Clinton Fire Department."

The fire chief explained in the report that, because of the timing of the call, two separate shifts responded to the incident.

“First shift got there and somewhat stabilized the incident,” Brown said. “And they traded off shifts at 7 in the morning like we do every day. And about 8:45, what we thought was a stabilizing incident, there was an explosion.”

The two firefighters involved in the explosion were more than 100 feet off the ground when the incident occurred.

Anderson said in a statement Saturday that employees discovered smoldering material in one of the loading facility’s silo storage bins. Anderson said ADM is assessing the damage to its facility. The investigation is still underway.

During a press conference in Clinton, Iowa, Brown identified the fallen firefighter as Lt. Eric Hosette, who was 33 years old and a 12-year veteran firefighter. Hosette was taken to Mercy Medical Center after the explosion, where medical crews worked to revive him but were unsuccessful.

The second victim, Adam Cain, 23, was in critical but stable condition Saturday night at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.

According to WATTAgNet Top Feed Companies Database, ADM is a leading producer of livestock feeds and supplements for chickens, horses, pets, rabbits and specialty breeds. Products include feed products, supplements, premixes, custom ingredient blends and feed ingredients.

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