Forklift May Have Figured In Spooner Plant Explosion

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Updated: 8:23 AM Mar 20, 2008 Forklift May Have Figured In Spooner Plant Explosion But, an investigator says the cause of Tuesday's explosion at the Cortec plant in Spooner remains a mystery. However, Spooner Fire Chief Darren Vik says nothing has been ruled out at this time. Posted: 9:41 AM Mar 18, 2008 Reporter: NewsCenter 13 Staff Email Address: news@weau.com	Courtesy: Lindsay Quinn

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Federal inspectors are investigating after an explosion and fire at a Spooner chemical plant caused an evacuation of the area and left two workers hospitalized in critical condition.

Tuesday afternoon, police let people return to homes and businesses near the Cortec Corporation Plant.

It makes aerosols and paint solvents.

Six people were in the plant at the time, including the two injured workers.

The other four workers were not hurt.

Aaron Merchant and Cory Labonte, both from the Spooner area, are in critical condition in Minnesota hospitals.

The blast is being investigated by inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to do soil and water tests.

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Previous story from Tuesday, March 18

Two people were severely burned and rushed to the hospital after an explosion at a chemical plant in Spooner Tuesday. It sparked an evacuation and shut down a highway in town.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what exactly sparked the explosion at the Cortec Corporation plant

As of 5:00 p.m, everyone who did have to leave the area just before 9:00 a.m. was back home. That's after a Haz-Mat Team from Superior ran tests to make sure the air was safe to breathe.

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All that's left of the Cortec plant in Spooner is in shambles. At least half the building is destroyed and what used to be inside, is now scattered on the ground outside the building.

"It took about six hours total to put out the fire," said Spooner Fire Chief
Darren Vik.

Chief Vik says it wasn't an aggressive fight most of the time since it was mainly shipping boxes and particle board from the walls ended up burning. He says the biggest battle came in the first moments after the explosion, knowing a worker was still stuck inside.

"We could hear a voice coming from the building. It was a very difficult and tricky extrication, trying to get this gentleman out. He was located about 25 to 30 feet under debris. He had very serious burns," Chief Vik said.

Aaron Merchant and Corey LaBonte were taken to two Minnesota hospitals, both with what Cortec's vice president called first or second degree burns.

"When I saw the explosion, I really didn’t think anyone could survive," said Neil Wienbergen.

Wienbergen works at a car dealership near the plant. He was helping customers when officers told him he had to evacuate. Not too far away, John Schullo also had to leave his print shop after hearing the bang and feeling the ground shake.

“My partner was outside plowing snow so we thought he hit the building. Then the girls up front said they thought there was an explosion by Cortec," said Schullo.

Seventy-five homes and businesses were quickly emptied and remained empty for the next eight hours as crews tested the air quality. A shelter was set up at the National Guard Armory for residents and rescuers still at the scene after the first explosion.

"We did have several explosions that took place, none of them which I would put in the life-threatening area as far as public safety. For the firefighters it is naturally a concern. We have aerosol cans and a few things that are going off," Chief Vik says.

As for the people in this town of 2600, they couldn't help but worry for everyone involved.

"I'm sure that the people inside the building and the injured are known by pretty much everyone in town, so of course it impacts everyone," says Wienbergen.

A spokesperson for Cortec says this is the first major accident at the Spooner plant.

On Tuesday night, hospital leaders told us Corey LaBonte was in critical condition. At last check, Aaron Merchant was also hospitalized with severe burns. Four other people in the building were not hurt.

In the coming days, inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will continue to investigate the explosion. The DNR also plans to test the soil and water for possible contamination.

Cortec also has a plant in the Chippewa Valley. Company leaders tell us the Cortec Corporation plant on Hogarth Street in Eau Claire doesn't deal with fillings for aerosol or paint solvents. It works with spray coating.

The company is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL BENSON: