Explosions Rip Iron Range Taconite Plant
October 12, 2006 — Two electrical explosions at the United Taconite processing plant in Forbes left one worker dead, two workers with smoke inhalation and a Virginia firefighter with a back injury. The incident occurred just before 1:00 p.m. According to the plant's operator, Cleveland-Cliffs, one explosion occurred in a motor control room in the concentrator while the other was at an outside electrical substation. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Department identified the victim as 24 year old Andrew Reed of Grand Rapids, who was an electrical coordinator at United Taconite. Reed was killed in the explosion in the motor control room. Fire and EMS personnel from McDavitt Township, Clinton Township, Eveleth, Virginia and Hibbing were dispatched to the scene, along with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad and the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department. The electrical "bump" caused by the two explosions was felt in a number of Iron Range communities. Taconite production was halted as significant electrical damage was reported at the taconite plant. The cause of the fatal accident remains under investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Picture-The motor control room in the United Taconite concentrator where one of the explosions occurred. Photo is from the MSHA website.
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