Dec 29, 1999 - 01:49 PM

Two People Killed in Nebraska Plant Explosion The Associated Press

HALLAM, Neb. (AP) - A tall silo used to store ash from a power plant was rocked by an explosion and fire today, killing two welders and injuring a third. The blast happened about 10 a.m. at the Nebraska Public Power District's Sheldon power station, which burns coal and has 83 employees. The two welders were working about 100 feet above the ground at the time and fell to their deaths, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department reported.

A third welder suffered cuts and bruises and was treated and released from BryanLGS West hospital in Lincoln, about 20 miles north.

The explosion ignited a fire that continued to burn late into the morning. Authorities said it was contained to the silo.

"There was some sort of ignition," said Sharon Soltero, an NPPD spokeswoman. "We don't know for sure what caused it. We just know that welding was going on."

Soltero said she was told at least two employees had been treated for emotional shock.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

FWIW there was an explosion at a propane storage facility SW of Atlanta this morning. According to the news snippets I have heard on local radio it occured during a routine load of a tanker truck. Coincidental perhaps...but seems there have been more fires and explosions locally the past 72 hours?!?

-- T.K. (Front_Line_Tech@patch.patch.patch.com), December 29, 1999.

People should be more careful about the air filter systems in those dusty plants. Sounds like the grain silo explosion that happened in KS last year.

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/062998/kan_haysville.shtml

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999.

How horrible!

-- Hokie (va@va.com), December 29, 1999.

I'm from Nebraska. Never heard of Hallam. Where is it? Is there such a place? I'd like to know.

-- tim daniels (timdaniels@commonsense.com), December 29, 1999.

Must be pretty small. If you go to the archives search for the Grand Island Independent on the AP Wire and type in 'ash' and 'silo', it will give you the article.

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999.