2 injured in explosion at Chicago factory

[July 18, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Officials say an explosion at a Chicago biodiesel manufacturing plant that injured two workers was caused by a chemical reaction.

Deputy Fire Chief Gene Ryan says the reaction caused a partial collapse of the one-story Columbus Foods plant. The explosion Friday morning sent bricks and debris flying hundreds of feet in the air and temporarily shut down some commuter train lines.

Rick Cummisford, the quality control supervisor at the plant, says two workers were mixing chemicals Friday morning when a reaction caused the explosion. He says the plant manufactures biodiesel out of vegetable oil.

Cummisford says one worker received scratches and the other was splashed with chemicals.

Ryan says hazardous materials teams have deemed the building safe.

2 injured in explosion at Chicago factory The Associated Press CHICAGO news://newsclip.ap.org/[e-mail]

Officials say an explosion at a Chicago biodiesel manufacturing plant that injured two workers was caused by a chemical reaction.

Deputy Fire Chief Gene Ryan says the reaction caused a partial collapse of the one-story Columbus Foods plant. The explosion Friday morning sent bricks and debris flying hundreds of feet in the air and temporarily shut down some commuter train lines.

Rick Cummisford, the quality control supervisor at the plant, says two workers were mixing chemicals Friday morning when a reaction caused the explosion. He says the plant manufactures biodiesel out of vegetable oil.

Cummisford says one worker received scratches and the other was splashed with chemicals.

Ryan says hazardous materials teams have deemed the building safe.

[Associated Press]

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