Explosion at Paradise Nursery sends one employee to hospital

The Madison Fire Department says that an explosion at Paradise Nursery on Yellowstone Highway in Madison County has sent one person to the hospital.

The fire department responded to the fire at around 9 a.m . this morning. When firefighters arrived at the nursery the found smoke coming from the shop area of the nursery and an employee inside who had been injured in an explosion.

“An employee at Paradise Nursery was using a hand grinder working on a tool that was clamped in a vice in the workshop when sparks from the grinder ignited the explosion,” said Corey Child, Chief of Madison Fire Department. “The employee was taken by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital where he went through decontamination procedures before he could be medically treated. He was later transferred to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment.”

The victim suffered multiple injuries from the explosion including shrapnel to the arm, head, and chest. The victim’s name has not been released at this time.

“Significant damage occurred to contents of the room, windows, doors, walls and ceiling in the room the explosion occurred in,” said Child. “What exploded has not been determined.”

Madison Fire Department responded with 12 personnel in two engines, an ambulance, and a command vehicle. The Rexburg Police Department also assisted with the call. All fire and police units cleared the scene by 11:45 am.

The cause of the explosion is still being investigated.