6 injured in Summerset Marine Construction explosion

2022-06-15 13:44:59 By : Mr. Shicheng Shao

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EAGLE, Wis. — Several emergency crews responded to a fire and explosion at Summerset Marine Construction in Eagle on Thursday.

The fire started around 7:40 a.m. 

After the initial explosion, multiple subsequent explosions followed, likely due to the diesel and liquid petroleum inside the burning building. Officials said explosions continued for 30 minutes after firefighters arrived. The cause of the explosion and fire is still under investigation.

Because the metal building on fire was in danger of collapsing, firefighters attacked the flames from the exterior.

The fire is still ongoing. Fire officials said they have not been able to reach the fire, due to the amount of metal and building debris on top of it that collapsed from the explosions. Excavators will be coming in to move metal to access the fire so it can be put out. 

WATCH: Several emergency crews responded to a fire and explosion at Summerset Marine Construction in Eagle. The fire started around 7:40 a.m. Crews are continuing to work to extinguish the fire. Get updates, here: https://t.co/4TySSDS2PR pic.twitter.com/e0wkSIefeI

Multiple agencies, as far south as Kenosha and far north as Milwaukee, are responding to the scene. An estimated 100 personnel are responding. Around 30 tankers are bringing in water. 

Officials said many firefighters are suffering from heat exhaustion. A therapy dog, Tesla, with the Western Lakes Fire Department is on scene to help firefighters through what will continue to be a long day.

Assistant chief of Western Lakes Fire Department Matthew Haerter said having so many units respond is important, so if an emergency would arise in another area, those first responders would still be equipped to help their own community. This way, he said, the "burden" would not fall on any one unit. 

Haerter said there are no fire hydrants in the area. Additional crews are bringing water to help put out the fire. At around noon, he estimated they would spend another eight hours fighting the fire.

Haerter said upon arrival, there was still active fire and injuries. 

Haerter said six people were injured from the fire. Three civilians were injured. Two were treated on scene and a third in critical condition was taken to the hospital. The owner of Summerset Marine said that person has a broken femur and was in surgery. 

Three firefighters also sustained injuries. Two were treated on scene and a third was taken to the hospital.

All victims are expected to surrvive. 

Authorities say that the two that were sent to the hospital because of the explosion at Summerset Marine Construction in Eagle are still recovering but are expected to survive. There is still a shelter place for those who live nearby. @SpectrumNews1WI pic.twitter.com/59iDMWr0HK

Officials said 24 people were inside the building and have all been accounted for, multiple times. All two dozen people were outside of the building by the time first responders arrived, according to Haeter. Firefighters are using a defensive approach to fight the fire, which means they did not enter the building. 

He says it was very disheartening to pull up to the scene. He says he was on his way in when he heard what happened. He said the employees said it started with an explosion and one employee drug 2 other employees out pic.twitter.com/gIQwCR90qq

A shelter in place order was sent out for those within a mile radius of the fire. People are advised to close their windows and not run air conditioning units, so outside air does not contaminate the air inside their homes.

Haerter said there is no active threat to the community, rather, the order is to protect against smoke inhalition or injury. Those included have received notification, the assistant chief confirmed. 

Just before 10 a.m., the Palmyra-Eagle Area School District confirmed Eagle Elementary School students were safely evacuated to the Palmyra-Eagle High School/Middle School. The elementary school is about a quarter mile from the site of the explosion.

Palmyra-Eagle Area School District Superintendent Todd Gray said the principal told him there was some shaking at the elementary school when the explosion occurred.

The Kettle Moraine Fire District said the fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire.

The company makes piers and docks, with a 24,000-square-foot (2,230-square-meter) facility in Eagle that includes a showroom, office, factory and warehouse, according to its website.

Micron Tool & Machine owner Jim Walslager said he was inside the building, which houses his business, at the time of the explosion.

"A ball of flames came through the wall," he said. "And then explosion after explosion after that. [...] Everything's gone."

Summerset Marine is on Chapman Lane, roughly 17 miles southwest of Waukesha and 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.

Megan Marshall contributed to this report.

May 20 Editor's Note: Assistant chief Matthew Haerter's name has been edited to reflect the correct spelling.