Two employees of EFI were thrown into the air and received minor injuries during a flash explosion at the plant at 2525 South Wabash.
Centralia Fire Chief John Lynch says one of the employees was welding on a module building that was under construction when the explosion hit throwing the welder an estimated six feet in the air. The other employee lifted off his feet was in the area of the explosion. The covering being placed on the building was also blown off. Some debris was up to 100 feet away.
There was no fire and just a small amount of smoke in the air when firemen arrived.
One employee was transported by Lifestar Ambulance while another went by private vehicle to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment. Lynch says the injuries appeared to be minor.
Lynch notes similar buildings are constructed every day in the plant without issue. An investigation into what caused the explosion is still underway.
The call came in at 9:53 Friday morning. The fire department was on the scene for about 20 minutes.
