Explosion, Fire Injures 2 at Signature Wafers Cookie Plant

An explosion and fire at a Signature Wafers cookie plant in Ripon, WI Monday afternoon left two injured and prompted the evacuation of about 30 workers on site, several local news organizations reported.

Ripon Fire Chief Tim Saul told The Oshkosh Northwestern that that rescue crews responded to the scene at about 1:30 p.m., safely evacuating about 30 workers from the site and transporting two people an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“We were dealt a hand of injured patients, an explosion, heavy smoke conditions where we didn’t know where the fire was or how it had advanced itself throughout the building, the size of the building – anything like that,” said Saul in the Northwestern.

The official said firefighters were able to keep the fire contained to a trash compactor on the west side of the building where the explosion is thought to have occurred.

Signature Wafers sales director Robert Kowitt told the newspaper that the explosion occurred as workers went to examine a smoke alarm and the trash compactor’s door blew off.

It is unclear what caused the incident, Kowitt said.

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