Wood Pellet Plant Fire in New Hampshire Injures One

The cause of a machine fire Tuesday night that injured a worker at a wood pellet plant in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, is still under investigation.

At about 9:30 p.m. an explosion was reported at New England Wood Pellet, a plant that manufactures wood pellet fuel. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke inside the plant.

All employees were evacuated and accounted for. A worker who suffered minor injuries was transported to Monadnock Community Hospital by ambulance. The worker was treated and released.

Peterborough Fire Chief Ed Walker told the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript that combustible wood dust that had collected over time ignited, extensively damaging the pellet conveyor system in two locations in the pellet mill.

A check for spot fire after extinguishment found several small flames in the steel beams of the roof structure. The plant has shut down until cleaning and repairs are accomplished.