Xcel shuts down Oak Park Heights plant
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Xcel Energy is shutting down its King plant in Oak Park Heights after a fire and possible explosion in a building near the coal-fired plant.
Xcel spokesperson Mary Sandok said the fire happened just before 5 a.m. this morning in a building where the coal is crushed before going into the plant.
"We know there were no injuries to employees out there," she said. "There is actually still a fire department out and there is still some hot coal in the building that they are trying to get out. So we have not had an opportunity yet to assess the damage."
Sandok said she doesn't know the extent of damage. No injuries are reported.
With the coal supply interrupted, Sandok said the plant is being shut down.
She said there is no power outage, because Xcel makes up the difference from other sources when a plant is out of operation.
It is not known how long the plant will remain shut down.
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