A Wednesday morning incident at the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) processing facility in Wilmington Township, Pa., left four individuals injured, including one who was airlifted to a regional burn center.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m. at the plant located at the intersection of Routes 18 and 208. While initial emergency dispatches reported an explosion and fire in an electrical panel, officials later characterized the event as an “electrical arc flash.”
Medical Response and Injuries
Emergency responders from multiple departments arrived on the scene to find four people in need of medical attention:
- One individual suffered significant burns and was transported via Medevac helicopter to the UPMC Mercy Trauma and Burn Center in Pittsburgh.
- A second individual was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
- Two additional individuals were treated on-site for minor injuries.
Facility Status and Investigation
The New Wilmington facility, which is a major hub for cheese and whey processing, was evacuated immediately following the flash. In an official statement, DFA confirmed that the situation has been contained and that they are working closely with local emergency personnel and outside experts.
“At DFA, we take safety very seriously,” the cooperative stated. “The situation has been contained, and we are investigating the circumstances of this incident. We will continue to work with appropriate local emergency personnel and outside experts as we continue efforts to safely resume operations at the plant.”
The cause of the electrical arc flash remains under investigation.
