Workers injured in paper mill explosion, one fatality

Four employees were injured and one was killed yesterday afternoon in Sartell when an explosion and fire broke out in the Verso Paper Corp. paper mill. Firefighters are still trying to put out the flames on several hundred-pound paper rolls.

About 50 employees were at the mill when the explosion occurred. The deceased was identified as a 50-year-old man from Albany. The injured workers were transported to St. Cloud Hospital and later released.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Officials believe the source of the explosion was an air compressor. The paper mill is the largest employer and tax payer in Sartell, according to Knox News.