ST. ANNA, Wis. - Authorities say a Dumpster outside an eastern Wisconsin foundry has exploded, killing one firefighter and injuring at least four others.
Victims Identifed
Steven Koeser, age 33
- died of blunt force trauma
Brad S. Woelfel, age 28
-transported to Theda Clark Medical Center- soft body injuries, no broken bones, all injuries are non-life threatening, he is in good condition and has been released.
Michael W. Fromm, age 27
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for multiple burns and was released
Jeffrey L. Fliss, age 31
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for multiple burns and was released
Matthew J. Winkel, age 28
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for multiple burns and was released
Joshua P. Mertens, age 31
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for sore back and released
Kurt P. Kelling, age 30
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for minor injuries and released
Chase J. Fritsch, age 17
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for minor injuries and released
Joshua Tyler Scott, age 15
-transported to Calumet Medical Center - treated for ear ringing and released
Calumet County Sheriff Gerald Pagel says it's not clear what caused the blast Tuesday evening.
The Dumpster is outside Bremer Manufacturing near rural St. Anna.
Pagel says a patrol officer saw a fire on the Bremer grounds Tuesday about 7:20 p.m. and called the fire department.
Neighbors tell The Post-Crescent of Appleton they heard an explosion just before 8 p.m. that shook homes, cracked walls and sent a plume of white smoke into the sky.
Calument County deputy Brett Bowe says a 33-year-old firefighter died at the scene.
A hospital official says one firefighter is in critical condition. Pagel says three others have non-life-threatening injuries.
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The company makes aluminum sand castings and supplies to diesel and internal combustion engine manufacturers and metalworking companies throughout the country.
Reports from last night stated the patrol officer noticed a 55 gallon barrel next to the dumpster and several other drums also in the vicinity.
This is really a sad day here in Wisconsin. Please keep all of the St. Anna fire fighters and their families in your thoughts and prayers. This really is a valuable lesson for all of us. There is no such thing as a routine fire. This is just so sad!
On behalf of the Paramedic's of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I send the family of this brave soul our deepest condolences and prayers. May God comfort you in this terrible tragedy. Every day holds the possibility of this type of thing for all emergency workers.......please be safe my sisters and brothers.
my prayers go out to the families of those hurt and killed and also to the entire dept .. Hang in there and you will get thru this .. Know that your Fire family will be there to Honor your Fallen and will never forget them ..
If the rumors coming in are true and this company was regularly dumping Class D metals and/or other accelerants in an unmarked or un-placarded dumpster, somebody's ass should be headed for a meat grinder!!!
On behalf of the Milwaukee Fire Department Honor Guard, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Family and to the members of the St Anna Fire Department.
The latest reports from here is that the dumpster was for metal and was marked. Some of the firefighters are also employees of the plant and sounds like there were similar responses like this in the past. Investigators are treating this as an accident and while not detemined if there were any other accelerants present in the dumpster, it sounds more like a reaction when water was applied which caused the explosion.