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By Bob Weaver
A major explosion and fire rocked the Lignetics plant on Route 5 at
Stout's Mill in Gilmer County before 2 p.m. Sunday. Two
men reportedly received severe injuries and were
life-flighted to the Pittsburgh's West Penn Burn Center. One was
identified as Johnny Persinger, address not
given.
A third man was taken to Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston
for treatment.
The plant has had several flash explosions and fires in recent years.
A Gilmer County Volunteer
Fireman, Assistant Chief Rob Lowther said this may have been the
worst. "It blew the back wall out," he said. "The sawdust
and heat creates a volatile situation." The Gilmer County
Volunteer Fire Department and the Sand Fork Volunteer Fire Department
fought the flames
throughout the afternoon.
Lignetics makes sawdust pellets to burn in fireplaces. The sawdust
concoction apparently was
ignited, resulting in a flash fire. The fireman said the blaze was
difficult to extinguish.
Choppers from Pittsburgh and Morgantown came directly to the site to
take the injured men to
Pittsburgh.
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