Fire Temporarily Shutters Eastern Iowa Coal Plant

Authorities are investigating the cause of a weekend fire that temporarily closed a coal plant south of Montrose, Iowa.

The Montrose fire department says a conveyor belt caught fire at Hendricks River Logistics about 6 a.m. Saturday. The blaze engulfed the conveyor system and spread into the plant’s 60-foot-tall tower.

One firefighter suffered a back injury while fighting the blaze. No other injuries were reported.

The Hawk Eye reports damaged to the plant is estimated at more than $1 million in damage.

Plant manager Shawn Duer told the Daily Gate City that the plant will be shut down until the conveyor system can be fixed.