Nebraska Plant Explosion Kills 2 Girls and an Employee. Here’s Why Officials Think the Kids Were There

A devastating explosion at a biofuels plant in Fremont, Nebraska, has left two young girls and one man dead, as authorities continue investigating the deadly blast.

The explosion occurred just before noon on Tuesday, July 29, at Horizon Biofuels, Inc., a facility that manufactures wood pellets for heating and pet bedding. The blast caused a partial collapse of the building, trapping workers and making rescue efforts extremely difficult. Fire crews were still battling the blaze the following day, unable to recover the victims’ bodies due to dangerous conditions, according to Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt.

“We tried to gain access, but the collapse and mangled steel made it too dangerous,” Bernt told reporters Tuesday evening.

By Wednesday, officials confirmed that the three missing individuals—an adult man and two girls under 12—were presumed dead. Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg called the incident “a tragedy” and said the entire community was grieving.

Authorities believe the two girls were inside the plant waiting for the male employee to finish his shift so they could leave together for a medical appointment. Their names have not yet been made public.

Despite rainfall Tuesday night, the fire continued to burn, and retrieval of the victims’ remains has been delayed. “It’s going to be a very slow and careful process,” said Carl Nielsen of the Fremont volunteer fire department.

The plant stores large quantities of wood and flammable, alcohol-based materials. CBS News noted the facility also experienced a fire in 2014 that affected the electrical system but left the building structurally intact.

The incident has drawn attention from state officials, including Senator Deb Fischer, who said her office is closely monitoring the situation and thanked emergency responders for their swift efforts.

As of Wednesday, the Horizon Biofuels website remains offline. The Fremont Fire Department and Nebraska State Patrol have not yet issued further updates.