Methane fueled explosion at Aumsville dairy farm causes fire

An explosion from a methane leak at an Aumsville dairy farm led to a fire Wednesday afternoon.
   
Betty Bielenberg, co-owner of Oakley Farms at 11314 Mill Creek Road, said the explosion happened after the rubber top of a methane digester expanded and began to release methane around 12:30 p.m. She said the methane" caught a spark," resulting in an explosion and then fire on the original tank and a second methane digester.
   
A methane digester is a large tank that uses methane from cow manure to produce clean energy.
   
Bielenberg said no people or animals were hurt and that the fire was "mostly out" by the time Aumsville fire officials arrived.
   
She said no other structures at the dairy farm were damaged.
   
KGW television released video of the explosion.
    
—Joseph Fanelli

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