Local News
Explosion, Fire Damage Johnston County Plant
Posted August 27, 2003 10:23 a.m. EDT
JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators continue to look for the cause of an explosion at a Johnston County plant Tuesday.
Authorities said the blast happened around 1:30 p.m., at the House-Autry Mills plant, at 7000 U.S. Highway 301 South in Four Oaks. The plant produces corn meal.
Johnston County Fire Marshal Paul Whitehurst said a hatch flew off a hopper at the back of the building, but investigators do not know what caused that to happen.
The blast knocked down a wall; a fire was contained to one section if the building.
The facility was created in January 2001 after relocating from Newton Grove.
Officials evacuated the plant. No one was injured.
