Four people were injured in an explosion Friday night in Paducah at a production facility for Dippin’ Dots, a company specializing in cryogenic ice cream.
McCracken County Emergency Management Director Jerome Mansfield said the explosion was reported at 8:45 p.m. Five employees were working at the facility.
Mansfield said two employees were taken to Baptist Health Hospital, with the other two being taken to Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital, both in Paducah.
He said the Paducah Fire Department, led by Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention Greg Cherry, is investigating the cause of the explosion. Utilities, including liquid nitrogen used to make the ice cream, have been shut off.
City of Paducah Spokesperson Pam Spencer said in a press release that along with the explosion, there was also a nitrogen leak at the facility. She said it isn't clear if the leak caused the explosion or occurred after the explosion.
“There’s been an incident at the plant. We are still trying to process the extent of the damage, so that’s our priority right now,” said Steve Heisner, Dippin’ Dots Vice President of Administration and Human Resources. “We’re just grateful that the employees have been accounted for and being attended to, which is our very first priority. And of course, we’ve been in contact with ownership and executive management. And we’ll be formulating a plan going forward.”
Heisner said the company can’t assess yet the potential damages the explosion might have caused because the facility is still closed off by fire officials for safety reasons.
