Wisconsin Corn Mill Restarts Operations After Explosion

The Cambria, WI corn milling facility of agricultural processing firm Didion Ethanol LLC is back on line after the company halted operations following a May 31 explosion there, the company announced in an Aug. 2 press release.

“It’s a multi-week process to restart and return to full production. We are excited the plant is up and running,” said a statement by Derrick Clark, vice president of operations at Didion Milling, the parent company of Didion Ethanol. “It’s great to have the team back together and see steam coming from the plant again.”

Powder & Bulk Solids reported on June 1 that three workers were killed and 11 were injured after the explosion in Cambria. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the facility in 2011 for dust explosion and fire-related hazards.

The site is accepting corn at its Cambria grain elevator from local farmers and the plant is operating at nearly full capacity, Didion’s release said. Many employees temporarily displaced by the incident have returned to work.

“This is a huge step forward, both as a company and as a community,” said Clark. “As we begin to rebuild and focus on a stronger future here in Cambria, we will continue to care for our work family, meaning our employees, those who were injured at the site and the affected families.”

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