fbpx

Workers Safe After Explosion Hits Plum Creek Plant in Columbia Falls

By Beacon Staff

All workers are safe after an explosion hit the Plum Creek Timber Co. medium density fiberboard plant in Columbia Falls on Tuesday afternoon, company officials confirmed to the Beacon.

Kathy Budinick, spokesperson for Plum Creek, said the plant’s employees were all accounted for after an explosion rocked the facility this afternoon. Earlier reports were that up to 50 people were missing in the aftermath. Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said a few workers were treated for smoke inhalation on site.

Thick plumes of smoke hung above the plant following the explosion and fire, which were reported around 3:15 p.m.

Plum Creek officials said they are unsure of the cause of the incident and an investigation is underway. No one on the ground would comment on what happened.

“It’s too soon to know what caused this,” Budinick said. “We’re working to contain the situation and we’re working with public safety officials to make sure everyone is safe.”

Columbia Falls resident Linda Holliday said she felt and heard three loud explosions at about 3 p.m. that shook her trailer about five blocks away.

Another resident, Krista LaRoque, also lives near the plant.

“I was sleeping and there were two blasts that woke me up,” she said. “It kind of shook the house and I thought that my husband was moving things.”

Curry was at the plant after the explosion and said that fire departments from Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Bad Rock, Kalispell and Evergreen all responded to the blast.

“There is extensive damage to the exterior of the building,” he said. “It was a significant explosion.”

This story will be updated.