At a news conference Thursday, the U-S Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released an update in its ongoing investigation into the April explosion and fire at the Husky Refinery in Superior.

The report shows that the explosion occurred in the refinery’s Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit while the refinery was shutting down for maintenance.

.@chemsafetyboard releases factual update on investigation into Husky Refinery explosion and fire https://t.co/enWXqUKKV1

— CSB (@chemsafetyboard) August 2, 2018

A piece of debris from the explosion flew about 200 feet striking a large storage tank containing asphalt. About 15,000 barrels of asphalt were released from a puncture in the tank and ignited, resulting in a large fire at the plant.

A total of 36 people sought medical attention following the explosion including 11 refinery and contract workers who had OSHA recordable injuries.

Investigators continue to collect data and evidence from the site to develop a root cause of the incident and a final report will be issued at the conclusion of the investigation.

KDAL

The Birds Eye packing plant in Darien had to be evacuated Sunday morning following a gas leak.

Initial reports say ammonia leaked from a coolant system. Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell says there were some serious injuries.

“Approximately fifteen employees were transported to local hospitals and 75 were evaluated at the facility here.”

Hazmat crews spent the day making sure the facility was safe. “Hazmat is here and they’re evaluating the inside of the building to ensure that there are safe levels and readings within the building,” says Picknell.

The cause of the leak is still under investigation, but it’s likely a mechanical failure. 

The Greenfield Fire Department is using a new technology to keep you — and firefighters — safer.

It’s called the HAAS alert system. Chief Jon Cohn says it alerts other drivers on the road whenever a first responder is nearby though popular map and GPS apps.

“Departments like Greenfield are really the ones who will help bring greater security to their community, and really have a halo effect around the surrounding area.”

Drivers using apps like Waze, Google, or Apple Maps will automatically be alerted when an emergency vehicle is nearby.

It’s a responder-to-vehicle system, so the original signal is actually being transmitted by the emergency vehicle itself.

Wisconsin transportation officials say Highway 19 in Sun Prairie could be re-built in as little as two months.

At a public information meeting last night the DOT said it’s still unclear if extensive repairs will be needed. City Administrator Aaron Oppenheimer says investigators are close to finishing their work. 

“So we can’t have D O T or other interested parties going into the area, essentially spoiling the area, before we’ve completed our investigation. We’re wrapping that up hopefully this week.”

Crews are working on clearing the area damaged by a gas-line explosion last week.

Sun Prairie police will decide soon whether to pursue charges, in a gas explosion that killed a firefighter one week ago. Lieutenant Kevin Konopacki says the exact sequence of events remains under investigation.

“I don’t want us to get into the speculative game until we have all our facts at the very end,” Konopacki said Monday. “Our investigative team is going to make an assessment” before any charging decisions are made,” he added.

A gas main was reportedly ruptured by a contractor on July 10, and the ensuing explosion killing firefighter Captain Cory Barr. Eleven other people were injured and several downtown buildings were damaged.

Many questions remain unanswered, in the investigation of Tuesday’s fatal explosion in Sun Prairie. Verizon Wireless and subcontractor Bear Communications told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they’re cooperating. But neither could confirm if it was their worker that cut a natural gas line. The subsequent blast killed firefighter Cory Barr.

A We Energies spokeswoman said they would not have information on whether the contractor sought to I-D the line’s location before digging. A Diggers Hotline spokesman said he couldn’t release customer requests, but that the affected utility is notified, and their workers mark the lines before work begins.

Verizon contractor was working in area of fatal Sun Prairie explosion, We Energies won’t say whether worker sought to locate gas line before starting work.https://t.co/St4BwL0RDd

— Molly Beck (@MollyBeck) July 13, 2018

The We Energies spokeswoman then referred the Journal Sentinel to the Sun Prairie Police Department. At a Wednesday press conference, Sun Prairie Police Lieutenant Kevin Konopacki said the investigation into the blast is in its preliminary stages.