Multiple fire departments were called to the scene of a tanker truck explosion and fire at a Council Bluffs Ethanol plant, Friday afternoon. The fire occurred at 10868 189th Street, the site of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (or, SIRE) just west of Interstate 29 at Exit 42. The exit was blocked for several hours while emergency crews remained on the scene.

KMTV Channel 3 in Omaha says according to Council Bluffs Fire Department officials, a worker was loading the tanker truck with ethanol when it exploded in flames.

Photos courtesy Kristi Engel Beebe

 Officials with Nebraska Medicine told the news station that one person suffered burns over 90-percent of their body. The victim was transported by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The fire happened at around 3:30-p.m., with the smoke was visible from Omaha. Firefighters used a special foam to fight the blaze, which was knocked-down within about 45-minutes to an hour. Crews remained on the scene for several hours, though, putting out hot spots and conducting mop-up operations.

The SIRE plant produces 110 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol every year. It also produces distiller’s grain and corn oil.