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Ethanol plant fire causes no injuries
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MONROE - Twelve area fire departments provided mutual aid to an early morning fire at Badger State Ethanol plant Tuesday, April 1. No injuries were reported in the fire.

Employees at the ethanol plant reported a fire at 2:48 a.m. after seeing flames in the roof duct system.

Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch called for mutual aid from the 12 surrounding fire departments after arriving at the plant, located at 820 W. 17th St., according to a news release from the Monroe Fire Department. The plant was shut down for maintenance and cleaning at the time, so only a skeleton crew was working at the time of the fire. Everyone got out safely.

The fire was contained to the duct system where it was reportedly burning corn-grain dust. There was no danger of the ethanol being involved, according to the release.

Fire department trucks or crews responded from Juda, Brodhead, Monticello, New Glarus, South Wayne, Albany, Browntown, Freeport Rural, Freeport City, Cedarville, and Orangeville. Mutual aid units were sent home by 5:45 a.m.

After the crews left the plant was able to receive grain and send ethanol.