Here in Minnesota it is common to lose build days due to weather and cold temps… never has 4607 lost school days and build days due to an industrial fire. Until now.
We were fortunate that the winds were blowing from the northwest for the last couple of days, but the winds have shifted. And it is expected that the blaze will last for at least two more days. Just after we locked up the shop tonight we were notified that school will be closed for Thursday due to air quality. It is a strange site to see the orange glow from the fire light up our town - and see the plume of smoke rise over our Sherco coal plant’s 700’ towers and start to cover our town.
Fortunately Becker will not lose anything structural other than scrapped cars. We are thankful for the help of 30+ Fire Departments from around the state. The biggest concern now is the fumes and air quality. While running errands I have driven through the smoke a few times in the last couple of days and it is very noxious. Many in Becker have already evacuated and are taking refuge elsewhere.
You can see Sherco plumes to the left of the darker plume - it is very ominous. Smoke can be seen and smelled all the way to Menomonie, WI nearly 100 miles away.
Say a prayer for the emergency personnel - as I write this current temps outside are -7 degrees and falling which creates more problems for them.