SEPTEMBER 21, 2023:
A variety of repairs are being made at the Ringneck Energy ethanol plant in Onida after an explosion and fire caused damage to the plant in July (1:02pm, July 9, 2023).
President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Walt Wendland says some electrical work is being done.
Wendland says as far as equipment needing to be replaced, things have worked out in their favor.
Six employees were at work at the time, but no one was injured.
JULY 10, 2023:
Investigators are at the Ringneck Energy ethanol plant in Onida today (July 10, 2023) looking into the cause of an explosion and fire at the plant yesterday afternoon.
Six employees were at work at the time (1:02pm, July 9, 2023), but no one was injured.
Walt Wendland is the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Ringneck Energy. He says based on location of the damage, they have some idea of what may have happened.
Wendland says they do have repairs to make in the ethanol processing part of the plant.
He says the damage could have been much worse.
Wendland says for now, the area around the Ringneck Energy ethanol plant is still closed to the public.
One mile of old Highway 83 on the east side of the plant will remain closed to all traffic until further notice.
JULY 9, 2023, UPDATE:
No one was injured early this afternoon (1:02pm, July 9, 2023) in an explosion and fire at the Ringneck Energy ethanol plant in Onida.
Onida Volunteer Fire Department Chief Caleb Shepherd told DRG Media Group that six employees were at work at the time.
Shepherd says the Sully County Sheriff’s Office has secured the scene and it will remain secured until the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office investigators arrive tomorrow.
Shepherd says there’s major structural damage to the ethanol processing portion of the plant.
Shepherd says they had 20 firefighters and five trucks working on the scene. He says they were assisted by:
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Onida Ambulance– 2 members
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Sully County Sheriff’s Office– 2 members
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Blunt Volunteer Fire Department– 7 members, 1 truck
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Pierre Rural Volunteer Fire Department– 6 members, 2 trucks
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Pierre Volunteer Fire Department– 5 members, 1 ladder truck
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Pierre Rescue– 1 member
JULY 9, 2023:
No one was injured early this afternoon (1:02pm, July 9, 2023) in an explosion and fire at the Ringneck Energy ethanol plant in Onida.
Onida Volunteer Fire Department Chief Caleb Shepherd told DRG Media Group that six employees were at work at the time. He says there’s major structural damage to the ethanol processing portion of the plant.
Shepherd says the Sully County Sheriff’s Office has secured the scene and it will remain secured until the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office investigators arrive tomorrow. He says one mile of old Highway 83 will remain closed to all traffic until further notice.
Shepherd says they had 20 firefighters and five trucks working on the scene. He says they were assisted by:
- Onida Ambulance– 2 members
- Sully County Sheriff’s Office– 2 members
- Blunt Volunteer Fire Department– 7 members, 1 truck
- Pierre Rural Volunteer Fire Department– 6 members, 2 trucks
- Pierre Volunteer Fire Department– 5 members, 1 ladder truck
- Pierre Rescue– 1 member
Photo credit Onida Fire Department.
Photo credit Onida Fire Department.
Photo credit Onida Fire Department.
Photo credit Onida Fire Department.
this includes old Highway 83 that runs along the east side of the plant and goes into Onida.
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