At least 10 people injured in Marengo building explosion, nearby homes evacuated

[cigaretteman]

MARENGO, Iowa (KCRG) - At least 10 people have been injured and nearby homes have been evacuated following an explosion at an industrial building in Marengo on Thursday morning.

Witnesses said it happened at around 11:15 a.m. in the 800 block of East South Street. The building is owned by Heartland Crush, according to property records, but is operated by C6-Zero, a company that converts used roofing shingles into biodiesel and other products. Flames continued to be visible from the building for hours, with a large plume of smoke emanating from the building and visible at long distances.

Around 30 people were inside at the time of the incident, according to officials. As of mid-afternoon on Thursday, nobody was killed in the explosion, but 10 to 15 people were hurt. Some of the injured had already been treated and released. Officials from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics said that they were operating in their procedures for a “mass casualty event,” and were standing by until the fire was extinguished.

People with questions about loved ones may call UIHC at (319) 356-1616 for more information.

At least 10 people injured in Marengo building explosion, nearby homes evacuated

First responders are at the scene of a building explosion in Marengo.

www.kcrg.com

 

[cigaretteman]

An explosion resulted in a fire and multiple injuries at a biofuel plant in Marengo Thursday morning, prompting the city to urge residents to evacuate and avoid the area.

The fire, in the 800 block of East South Street, caused city officials to urge all residents to avoid being outside because of the dense smoke. The Iowa County Sheriff's office also urged residents on Facebook to avoid the area.

"Anyone evacuated due to the fire can go to the Iowa County Transportation building. Please stay indoors otherwise. A large fire is being fought. PLEASE, NO SIGHT SEEING!" the post read.

As of 3 p.m., no residents were sheltering in the county transportation building. A Washington County official said the people evacuated from the area around the plant were staying with friends and relatives.

At 4 p.m., fire still burned at the plant​

Iowa State Patrol Senior Trooper Bob Conrad said of the fire, “it can be an all-night thing.” He said he was glad to see there was less smoke than earlier but the response was still ongoing.


At least 30 people were inside the Marengo soybean plant when it exploded and caught fire, according to Conrad. There were no fatalities reported as of 2:30 p.m.

All of the surrounding counties had sent fire personnel to assist with battling the continuing blaze, Conrad said. He said the cause of fire, which started at 11:20 a.m., had not been determined.



Conrad said several people inside the building sustained injuries and had been transported to the University of Iowa and other local hospitals.

Public safety officials were monitoring air quality and groundwater quality, he said. He said public safety officials from multiple jurisdictions in the surrounding areas worked together to contain the threat to the public.

Expert says dust can be source of fire in manufacturing facilities​

Officials haven't said what may have caused the explosion at the biofuel plant, but high concentrations of dust can be a source of fires in grain handling and manufacturing facilities, said T. Renée Anthony, director of the Great Plains Center of Agricultural Health at the University of Iowa.



When large sources of settled dust become airborne and there's a spark — anything from an overheated bearing to an electrostatic shock — can cause a fire, Anthony said.

Inside an enclosed space, an expanding fire creates pressure that can lead to an explosion, she said.

“A lot of agricultural products do have combustible dust of concern,” said Anthony, who pointed to dust that caused an explosion at a sugar plant in Georgia that killed 14 people in 2008.

Another source of fires and explosions is flammable gas inside an operation, she said.

Plumes of smoke seen 5 miles from town​

Over the fields and roads leading into Marengo, dark plumes of smoke billowed over town at 2:30 p.m.

Residents told to go to Williamsburg, next town west of Marengo​

All homes east of Eastern Avenue in Marengo were evacuated and residents were told to head to Williamsburg, the next town west, according to fire officials on scene. At 2 p.m., it was unclear if there was a specific shelter available to evacuees.

Williamsburg City Clerk Niki Osweiler told the Des Moines Register shortly after 2 p.m. the city did not have information about the evacuation.

The city of Marengo warned residents still in town via Facebook that their water may be brown due to extra water usage from the fire.

Multiple patients are being treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, according to hospital spokesperson Jennifer Brown.

"University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has received multiple patients following today’s explosion in Marengo and anticipate others may be en route. At this time, we are evaluating the severity of injuries and are working to ensure all patients receive the care they require," Brown wrote in an email to the Register.

Explosion, fire in Marengo biofuel plant leaves many injured. Residents evacuated

The city is urging all residents to avoid being outside due to smoke. The Iowa County Sheriff's office also urged residents to avoid the area.

www.desmoinesregister.com

 

[Fan In Black]

jeez. Sad deal.

 

[MitchLL]

Water being trucked in from as far away as North Liberty.

Lots of emergency vehicles around the Amanas.

 

[Pinehawk]

The stockpiled shingles are probably burning. And, turning into a liquid oil fire.
The smoke looked pretty black in pictures.

 

[lucas80]

2 months later and CS-Zero has not complied with state requests for access to the property and information on what happened.
If only our AG had time to look into this versus hunting down trans kids. CS-Zero has ignored her requests, and has wiped their ass with her court filings. Zero leadership from Kimmie, either.
https://www.kcrg.com/2023/02/06/judge-orders-c6-zero-comply-with-dnr-order-clean-up/

 

[Pinehawk]

Talked with someone about this and they said that company has basically been run out of several states for failure to comply with various requirements.
They were dissolving shingles in solvent to extract the oil, and it exploded.

 

[MitchLL]

2 months later and CS-Zero has not complied with state requests for access to the property and information on what happened.
If only our AG had time to look into this versus hunting down trans kids. CS-Zero has ignored her requests, and has wiped their ass with her court filings. Zero leadership from Kimmie, either.
https://www.kcrg.com/2023/02/06/judge-orders-c6-zero-comply-with-dnr-order-clean-up/

That doesn't get national coverage.

Iowa's Republican leadership wants headlines. The Marengo story doesn't get them on Fox.

 

[lucas80]

C6-Zero has missed another deadline to turn over information.
If only this could be pinned on Pete Buttigieg, somehow.

 

[MitchLL]

C6-Zero has missed another deadline to turn over information.
If only this could be pinned on Pete Buttigieg, somehow.

Give them time.

Dim Kim hasn't gotten her talking points memo from the RNC yet for this week.

 

[torbee]

I've been to Marengo.

It will be difficult to tell the blown up part from the non-damaged part.

 

[Pinehawk]

The fire departments who responded had much of their turn out gear ruined from the response.
They sent the bill to the company responsible, but they blew them off and never responded.
The state stepped up with an emergency preparedness grant to cover the expenses.
So, the company basically passed on the response and clean up expenses to the taxpayer.

 

[Pinehawk]

"Firefighter turnout gear and equipment damaged or destroyed at an explosion in Marengo will be replaced by Iowa Homeland Security.

The agency will spend about $600,000 to replace gear for more than 20 departments that responded to the blast at the plant operated by C6-Zero, The Gazette reported.

Some of the turnout gear has diesel fuel as well as a solvent of unknown nature that was stored in the facility."

 

[Pinehawk]

"The same month C6-Zero founder Howard C. Brand III told Iowa officials his shingle recycling business had a “clean bill of health” in other states, he was facing extradition from Iowa to Texas on criminal charges that included illegal dumping of shingles.

Brand was on regulators’ radar more than two years before the explosion, a Gazette review shows, and red flags continued to pop up about his operations. Iowa and federal officials communicated about his environmental problems in other states, but apparently didn’t understand the risks of the Iowa operation and did not force the issue."

"As firefighters responded to an explosion and fire at the C6-Zero plant in Marengo, Iowa, they didn't know the chemicals inside and the plant's sprinkler system didn't go off and appeared to not be working, according to Marengo Police Chief Ben Gray.

Gray and others asked for the list of chemicals inside after an Oct. 25 fire, but never received that list until after the Dec. 8 explosion, he says."

 

[lucas80]

"Firefighter turnout gear and equipment damaged or destroyed at an explosion in Marengo will be replaced by Iowa Homeland Security.

The agency will spend about $600,000 to replace gear for more than 20 departments that responded to the blast at the plant operated by C6-Zero, The Gazette reported.

Some of the turnout gear has diesel fuel as well as a solvent of unknown nature that was stored in the facility."

Why go after the company when you can sponge up federal funds and sweep the whole thing under the rug?

 

[MitchLL]

The fire departments who responded had much of their turn out gear ruined from the response.
They sent the bill to the company responsible, but they blew them off and never responded.
The state stepped up with an emergency preparedness grant to cover the expenses.
So, the company basically passed on the response and clean up expenses to the taxpayer.

You know where Dim Kim found the $$$ to pay Marengo?

Covid money from the Feds. And that's because those unwarranted tax cuts have already affected revenue assets.

 

[lucas80]

Former employee sues C6-ZERO and Heartland Crush following plant explosion in Marengo

The couple are seeking “fair and reasonable compensation” as well as punitive damages against the companies that will deter them and others from conducting similar conduct.

www.kcrg.com

The first lawsuit has been filed. A husband and wife seek fair and reasonable compensation for lost, “consortium”.

 

[lucas80]

Kimmie has asked the Feds to come in and handle the clean up for her after things, "Fell behind schedule".
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/epa-taking-lead-on-oversight-of-c6-zero-explosion-site-cleanup

 

[lucas80]

$95,000 fine from the state.
Give ‘em the Bird, Brenna!!!!

C6-Zero to pay $95k in fines after biofuel plant explosion

Owners of a Marengo plant will pay nearly $100,000 in state fines after the C6-Zero biofuel plant explosion in December.

www.kcrg.com

 

[Pinehawk]

Fine is in part for not having safety plans or a sprinkler system. Which would have cost more than the fine to develop. C6-Zero got off very light.
The State even paid to replace the firefighter's gear ruined by responding to that incident.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

I just spent a couple of days last week cleaning up an acreage outside of Marengo to put on the market. House my kid built and 40 acres, trappers cabin and pond. When you're back in this timber it feels like you could be in West Virginia, it's that remote feeling. Pole building along with the house...

 

[lucas80]

The Iowa DNR is suing the owners.
https://www.kcrg.com/2023/09/08/iow...6-zero-over-marengo-plant-explosion-recovery/

 

[lucas80]

The EPA has found that the plant had multiple electrical and safety code violations.

Report: Marengo C6 Zero plant not up to electrical code before explosion

The explosion at the C6 Zero injured 10 people and forced people to evacuate nearby homes.

www.kcrg.com

 

[lucas80]

Another lawsuit by a worker injured in the explosion.
https://www.kcrg.com/2024/02/19/worker-injured-2022-marengo-plant-explosion-sues-company/