A preliminary investigation from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal has deemed an accidental dust explosion to be the cause of Tuesday’s explosion at the Horizon Biofuels plant in Fremont.
A statement released Thursday afternoon says is appears the explosion had occurred during the manufacturing process.
“Additional investigation efforts are currently impeded due to the instability of the structure,” the agency said.
Three bodies have been recovered building. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office confirmed 32-year-old Dylan Danielson of Columbus, was killed in the explosion. His body was recovered around noon Wednesday, later that evening the bodies of two young girls who were inside the plant were also recovered.
During a Tuesday morning news conference, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg confirmed that Danielson and his two daughters were at the facility at the time of the blast. The children had reportedly accompanied their father to work ahead of a scheduled doctor’s appointment.
Horizon Biofuels, which operates under the name Elkhorn Valley Animal Bedding, manufactures wood pellets and animal bedding from waste wood. The company employs 10 people and is one of three commercial pellet plants in the state, with a production capacity of 20,000 short tons annually.