ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota's fire marshal says an
explosion near Britton that killed two volunteer firefighters and
injured a third was caused by spontaneous combustion in coal.
Twenty-two-year-old William Waldner and 20-year-old Jacob
Waldner died Sept. 15 while battling a coal bin fire at the Sunset
Hutterite Colony. Jacob Waldner's father, Jack, was injured. The
firefighters were on top of a building when the explosion blew off
the roof and a wall.
Fire Marshal Al Christie says there was nothing the firefighters
could have done to prevent the blast.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-10-13-11 0725EDT
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