Six people hurt in We Energies silo blast

OAK CREEK, Wis., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Six people were hurt, including one severely, in an explosion at a We Energies coal dust silo in Oak Creek, Wis., officials said.

Officials said an investigation is underway into Tuesday's explosion, which occurred as four contract employees were inside the 65-foot-tall silo and two were nearby, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday.

A 22-year-old employee suffered burns to more than 50 percent of his body. The remaining five workers suffered injuries ranging from minor burns to third-degree burns.

A 43-year-old employee is said to have pulled two of his fellow workers, including his own son, to safety following the coal dust silo blast. A cause for the explosion has not been determined.

The injured employees, whose identities have not been released, all work for ThyssenKrupp Safway, a scaffolding services company in Waukesha, Wis.

We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey said silo that exploded at the company's coal-handling facility was constructed in November 2007.

A company spokesman said coal dust can become explosive under certain conditions.