Explosion Closes Marshfield Plant

A large, steam-pressurized metal tank exploded early Monday morning at the Marshfield DoorSystems plant in Marshfield, Wis., causing an estimated $3 million in damages, according to several local press reports. Company officials were not returning calls to local media about the event. 

The Wausau Daily Herald says the facility remains closed as the cause of the explosion is under investigation by state and local officials. A number of buildings were reported to have sustained structural damage, but the plant was between shifts at the time.  Only one worker received some minor injuries.

"Based upon what I saw, there is no doubt in my mind if this had happened during the next shift, there would have been some very serious injuries and fatalities," a local fire department official told the newspaper.  It was also reported that thunderstorms and lightning were moving through the area at the time of the explosion, but investigators don't yet know whether the weather played a role in it. No fire resulted from the blast.

Masonite announced a deal to acquire Marshfield DoorSystems almost two weeks before the incident.  There have been no reports from company officials whether the explosion will have an impact on that transaction or not.

A report from WAOW 9, the local ABC affiliate.