No Injuries After Fire At Dyno Nobel Plant In Biwabik
Photo courtesy of Northland Fire Wire.
UPDATE: 4:25 p.m. 3/18/25
BIWABIK, Minn. — A spokesperson for Dyno Nobel released the following statement about Tuesday’s fire at the explosives plant:
“At around 10 a.m. CT this morning, an employee noticed smoke and flames in a boiler room that is part of Dyno Nobel’s facility in Biwabik, Minnesota. The on-site team followed emergency response procedures as trained, including evacuating the site, contacting the fire department, and restricting access. The fire was successfully extinguished without any injuries or heat exposure to explosive products or sensitive materials on site. The team is working to ensure there are no further risks before re-starting operations, and an in-depth investigation will take place in coming days.
Dyno Nobel appreciates the quick response and safety-focused actions of the local fire department and the Biwabik team.
Dyno Nobel is a leading supplier of industrial explosives and blasting services to the mining, quarrying, seismic and construction industries. Dyno Nobel’s Biwabik facility provides services and products to the iron mining industry in the surrounding region.”
UPDATE: 1:08 p.m. 3/18/25
BIWABIK, Minn. — An “All Clear” notice has been sent out regarding a fire at Dyno Nobel Inc., an explosives plant just south of Biwabik, just after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Dyno Nobel manufacturers blasting products used by the mining industry.
According to the FireWire, the fire was reported around 10:45 a.m.
In a press release, the St. Louis County Sheriff Office said the fire started near an exhaust vent and was quickly contained and extinguished.
All people within one mile of the plant were evacuated as precautionary measure and now has been lifted. No injuries were reported.
Damages to the plant is unknow at this time as the incident remains under investigation.
The mayor of Biwabik, Steve Biondich, released a statement which says, “If your phone has not received the “All Clear” notice, the scene is secure and the fire is out. There is no threat to the City of Biwabik and they are mopping up. The evacuation radius for a fire at that location is 1 mile. We do not have any homes in that radius. However, our friends and neighbors in Scenic Acres and Biwabik Township were affected. As a piece of information, when something of this nature happens, it is a standard practice for us to open the Pavilion during emergencies as a place for people to gather. Of course, that’s assuming the Pavilion is outside of any radius that requires evacuation.”
Biwabik Township Fire Department, Lakeland Fire Department, Fayal Township Fire Department, Gilbert Police Department, East Range Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota DNR all responded to the incident.
ORIGINAL: 12:56 PM 03/18/2025
BIWABIK, Minn. — An “All Clear” notice has been sent out regarding a fire at Dyno Nobel, an explosives plant just south of Biwabik, just after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the FireWire, the fire was reported around 10:45 a.m. All people within one mile of the plant were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Emergency vehicles remained nearby the plant on Highway 4.
Biwabik Township Fire Department, Lakeland Fire Department, Fayal Township Fire Department, Gilbert Police Department, East Range Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota DNR all responded to the incident.
