Worker Hospitalized After Explosion

A worker was hospitalized after an explosion Friday morning at Midwest Powder Coating Co. in St. Charles, Ill. According to reports, the man's injuries are not life threatening.
Firemen responded at 10:30 a.m. to the Midwest Powder Coating Co., 3865 Swenson Ave., where they found a small fire in a mixing vat in the mezzanine of the plant. The fire was extinguished in 30 minutes.St. Charles Fire Chief Joe Schelstreet said the products used in a mixing operation at the time were part of a powder coating process. He said the injured worker was in front of the building when fire units arrived. The patient was flown in a medical helicopter to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood. As of Tuesday, Schelstreet said there was no update on the worker's condition.
There were no other injuries, according to the fire chief. Schelstreet said employees had evacuated the building per emergency protocol.The incident caused $25,000 damage to machinery and contents. The cause of the incident is under further investigation but is not considered suspicious, Schelstreet said.