Explosion forces shutdown at ADM plant in Illinois

PEORIA (AP) — Archer Daniels Midland has temporarily shut down operations at its corn processing plant in central Illinois after an early morning explosion damaged the facility.

ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson says a fire broke out after the explosion in the maintenance area of the Peoria plant at about 3 a.m. Wednesday. Nobody was hurt but fire officials say one person was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Peoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Morgan says firefighters arrived at the scene to find an open gas line feeding the fire. Morgan says shutting down the gas line extinguished some of the fire, but the blaze had already spread to the roof.

Anderson says ADM is investigating and working to determine the extent of the damage.