Fire Chief Says Human Error Likely Caused Explosion at Wisconsin Plant

October 21, 2009

Fire officials say human error likely caused the fatal explosion and fire at a Columbus packaging plant.

Forty-seven-year-old Jeffrey Doxtator of Columbus died Sunday when sparks from a grinder he was using ignited vapors at the American Packaging plant.

Columbia County Coroner Angela Hinze says Doxtator died from internal injuries caused by the explosion.

Fire Chief Randy Koehn says there was a sign on the door of the room where the blast happened that warned it was a hazardous area.

Koehn says an insurance agent at the scene estimated damage at about $1 million.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, www.madison.com/wsj