Minnesota Power worker injured at Taconite Harbor

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A fuel system explosion at Minnesota Power’s Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder injured a long-time worker on Monday.

Joe Fredrickson, 41, a fuels technician, was in a coal bunker room when the explosion occurred. He was taken by ambulance to Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais and later transferred to the Miller Dwan Burn Center in Duluth. A family member said. A press release from Minnesota Power said that Fredrickson was “conscious and communicative” when he was taken from the Energy Center.

As of Tuesday, he was in critical condition, according to his sister-in-law, Shelley Fredrickson.

Joe Fredrickson is the brother of Silver Bay Fire Chief John Fredrickson, who was presented with the Minnesota Fire Officer of the Year award last week.

Jody Reineccius, the city’s assistant fire chief said the Fredrickson’s left Silver Bay that morning to be near their injured family member.

Minnesota Power is investigating the cause of the explosion and temporarily evacuated the plant, company officials said. Firefighters were in the scene extinguishing hot spots in the bunker.

Tags: minnesota power, taconite harbor, news