Cambria Village Board Gets Update On Didion Progress

9/12/17 – The Cambria Village Board received an update last night on operations at the Didion corn mill. An explosion at the facility on May 31 leveled the milling portion of the facility, killed five employees and injured nine others. Didion Human Resources Director Amy Jones says the demolition is 70-percent complete though the operation is currently on pause as the company works with regulatory agencies. Demolition is expected to resume again in the next few weeks. Rebuilding is estimated to begin in mid-October. A conservative estimate for completion is 12-to-18 months once construction begins. Jones says they are back up to operating at full capacity to produce ethanol and receive grain. She says the company is thankful to the farmers they partner with for their understanding during this situation. Jones notes that some of the timelines given to farmers have changed but they have been very accommodating. All commitments and contracts that were in place before the incident have been honored. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is expected to present a report of their findings by the end of November. The US Chemical Safety Board is also working to determine cause and origin while Didion too is conducting its own internal investigation.