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June 23, 2005

Conair Catches Fire

Alcohol used in manufacturing hair-care products fed a plant fire that killed one person and injured another, officials said.

Firefighters reported at least six explosions after arriving at the Conair Corp. plant in this central Illinois town on Wednesday night. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire Thursday.

The fire happened in an area where alcohol is used to manufacture aerosols for hair-care products, Mayor Neal Williams said. Firefighters found the victim's body in the fire-damaged area.

Another worker was treated for injuries at the scene, Police Chief Paul Dollins said.

Worker Mike Eskew said he heard the first of two quick explosions in the room next to his, where two large tanks filled with alcohol for cleaning equipment were kept.

"I thought it was thunder, and then it happened again." Eskew said. "By the time I knew it wasn't thunder and it was in the building, I saw flames, and then the alarm went off."

Fifty-eight employees were at work at the time of the fire about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the mayor said. The plant employs 240 people.

Posted by at June 23, 2005 05:52 PM

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