Fremont building explodes; people reported missing

Police and fire departments from numerous agencies were at the scene of an explosion in Fremont Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, the former Golden Sun Feeds facility, now owned by Horizon BioFuels, exploded.

The building is located near East Cloverly Road and South Union Street on the south side of Fremont. The Nebraska State Patrol said in a social media post that a large radius around the area was shut down.

Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt said during an afternoon press conference that three people were in the building at the time of the explosion and were unaccounted for.

Bernt said fire crews were unable to gain access to the building because it had collapsed. At that point, he said, the decision was made to call in Nebraska Task Force One.

MJ Lierman, a spokesperson for Lincoln Fire & Rescue, said five members of Task Force One, an urban search and rescue team, had been activated and sent to the scene. However, she had no other details.

First District Rep. Mike Flood, whose district includes Fremont, said in a social media post that he had been in contact with the mayor, “and my team will be working to support their response to the explosion at Horizon Biofuels.”

“Our prayers are with the people of the City of Fremont, Dodge County, and the first responders on the scene,” he wrote.

This is a developing story. Stay with Nebraska Public Media News for updates.