Tanker Fire
A tanker fire early this morning in Eau Claire County has left one person injured and caused at least $75,000 in damage.
Township Fire Officials were called to Bergman Company Incorporated, a pavement and blacktop business, in the Town of Union around 7:15 a.m.
Highway 12 near the north crossing was shut down shortly afterwards, and remained closed off for almost 2 hours.
Fire officials say three workers were filling a truck with liquid propane that ignited to start the blaze.
Workers were evacuated 1/4 of a mile outside of company headquarters. A spokesman for Bergman says a crew member on the scene at the time of the fire was injured and flown to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. A co-worker who spoke to the person on the phone says she believes the person to be in stable condition.
Officials say a propane gas leak is believed to be the cause of the fire, but it could have been much worse. "Fortunately, the relief valves and everything operated properly on the tanks so we didn't have an explosion situation," says Township Fire Battalion Chief Joe Alf, "But we didn't even attempt to attack the fire until we had adequate resources on site to do so."
Chippewa Fire Protection District, Rock Creek and Elk Mound Fire Departments were called in to assist.
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