Following a significant explosion and subsequent fire at a Nebraska plant on Tuesday afternoon, three people that were in the building at the time of the blast remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred at the Horizon Biofuels plant in Nebraska during the late morning, with firefighters dispatched to the scene at 11:56 a.m. after an explosion was reported. By the time first responders arrived at the scene, they found the building engulfed in flames and smoke, with some sections of the structure collapsed entirely. A request for mutual aid from the rural fire department was placed due to the extent of the damage.

What We Know About the Horizon Biofuels Explosion

So far, the cause of the explosion at Horizon Biofuels is unknown. Video footage of the blast shows that the entire facility, including the building’s tower, was severely impacted by the explosion. Three people remain missing at the time of this article’s publication, including an employee of Horizon Biofuels and two girls under the age of twelve. The children were waiting for the employee to get off work so they could go to a doctor’s appointment. Fremont’s mayor notes that the ferocity of the blaze has prevented first responders from getting into the plant to search for survivors.

Task Force One was deployed from Lincoln to assess the building’s damage and determine how a search can be conducted safely. Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt stated that his crews initially “tried to get access, but just due to the collapse with the mangled steel… were unable to get inside.” Task Force One’s helicopter and drones from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office are being used to survey the building so that first responders can gain access. The fire is still burning as of Wednesday morning and fire crews are expected to have several days’ work ahead of them to get the situation entirely under control.

Local Residents Rally Together to Assist First Responders

The local Fremont community was shaken by the explosion, but residents in the area have rallied to support first responders. Firefighters have been working in shifts due to the heat and risk of dehydration, with members of the community, the Red Cross, and Salvation Army banding together to provide them with water. Although water donations are welcome, members of the community should stay away from the scene of the fire and not attempt to go around roadblocks set up by law enforcement agencies.

The following streets have been shut down to protect residents and allow firefighters to fully concentrate on the blaze:

• West Cloverly Road
• East Cloverly Road
• Union Street
• Schneier Street

The Doan Law Firm Fights for Victims of Plant Explosions

At the Doan Law Firm, our chemical plant explosion attorney fights tirelessly to secure justice for those harmed by events such as this one. We will continue to monitor this situation and post updates as they are released. If you or a loved one was impacted by the Horizon Biofuels explosion or another similar blast event, please reach out for a free case consultation. Our legal team is here to help.