Fire At Arkalon Ethanol Plant Causes Significant Damage

Seward County Firefighters were called out Sunday evening to Conestoga’s Akalalon Ethanal Plant east of Liberal on the reports of an explosion at the plant. Firefighters arrived at approximately 7:15pm and staff on duty at the plant told arriving firefighters they had a natural gas explosion in a combustion burner in the feed dryer system on the second floor of the plant. SCFD had the fire under control and cleared the scene by 3:18am. They were called back to the Ethanol Plant shortly after 5:20am due to a flare up. No injuries were reported during the incident, and early preliminary damage estimates range from $1- $2 million dollars. Cause of the explosion and fire are still under investigation.