An Iowa firefighter was killed and another was hurt following a Saturday morning explosion while they were battling a fire at a grain silo storage bin.
The initial fire started around 5:45 a.m. at an Archer Daniels Midland plant in Clinton, the Clinton Herald reports. The Clinton Fire Department was called to the scene, and an explosion happened a couple hours into fighting the fire.
Two Clinton firefighters — identified as Lt. Eric Hosette and firefighter Adam Cain, according to KWQC-TV — were taken to the hospital following the blast. However, Hosette, a 33-year-old — succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead
Immediately after the explosion, firefighters couldn't find Cain. But once he was located, he was airlifted to an Iowa City hospital in critical condition but is now stable.
At a Saturday night press conference, Chief Mike Brown said his department's firefighters were able to stay home with their families. Firefighters from other agencies will be covering their shifts, KWQC-TV reports.
"Healing will take a long time," Brown said.
ADM thanked the firefighters for their service and expressed sorrow over the death and injuries.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these brave firefighters,” a company spokesman told the Herald. “They put their lives in danger every day, and it's hard to express how much we appreciate their selfless help in a time of need. … We are deeply saddened at the turn of events. We are investigating the cause and assessing the damage to our facility.”
A Facebook post by the Rock Island Fire Department over the border in Illinois offered condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the fallen firefighter.
"Please pray for the members of the Clinton Fire Department and their families as they have lost one of the own while fighting a fire this morning," the post stated.
