At around 11:00 p.m., a huge explosion occurred at a maize processing plant. A second, smaller explosion followed 20 minutes later. Much of the plant was destroyed. The silos outside the building damaged. Sixteen people were working in the plant at the time of the explosion. Five workers were killed and 11 others were injured, including an employee who suffered a double leg amputation after being crushed by a railway wagon. A week later, the ethanol production plant adjoining the maize processing plant once again began taking maize deliveries from farmers.

In 2011, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had identified an issue of poor dust management at the site. The operator paid a fine and took steps to end the matter in 2013. A report issued by OSHA in November 2017 found that the two explosions summarised here likely resulted from an accumulation of grain dust throughout the facility. The report noted that equipment representing a potential ignition source had not been adequately maintained. Among the violations noted in the report, OSHA pointed out the following safety rule violations:

• failure to perform required maintenance on operating equipment;
• use of dust extraction systems inside buildings not fitted with dust explosion protection systems;
• failure to implement a housekeeping program to control dust accumulations;
• lack of a system for filtering out undesirable materials that may be present in grain (ferrous materials)
• absence of systems to prevent static electricity discharges, particularly along the grain transfer line (not earthed despite the descriptions);
• failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment to employees;
• failure to correct malfunctioning dust collection systems;
• failure to maintain equipment safety controls;
• lack of employee training on potential ignition sources and on procedures for cleaning the facilities, performing preventive maintenance, operating safety equipment and safety instructions such as prohibiting the use of compressed air during cleaning operations in the presence of a potential ignition source.

OSHA proposed $1.8 million in fines, which the operator has appealed.