Tuesday, May 29 2012 4:22 PM EDT2012-05-29 20:22:40 GMT
A major explosion and fire rocked a Sartell paper mill Monday morning at 11:42 a.m., killing one person and injuring five others.
A major explosion and fire rocked a Sartell paper mill Monday morning at 11:42 a.m., killing one person and injuring five others.
SARTELL, Minn. (AP) - A Sartell paper mill that was badly damaged in a Memorial Day explosion and fire had been shut down to repair a leaking water pipe shortly before the blaze.
The St. Cloud Times reports that the shutdown caused the plant to switch its source of cooling water for compressors. Employees later cited those compressors as the spot where they saw smoke and flames just before the explosion, as the plant was being brought back online.
The newspaper said the information was found in statements nine employees gave to police that the publication obtained in a data request. The state fire marshal's office hasn't finished its investigation and hasn't released any information about a possible cause yet.
One man died and four other workers were hurt. Most of the mill's workers have been laid off and it's expected to be idle into the fall.
