Biron, Wisconsin, USA 15 August 2011 -- One of three men injured in a flash fire at NewPage Corporation’s Biron paper mill was in serious condition today at a Madison hospital, according to local news reports. The hospitalized man and one of the other two are contractors who were conducting maintenance at the mill.

NewPage spokesman Cliff Bowers said the accident occurred Friday about 8:15 a.m. in a building used as a coal dust collection system near the mill entrance, in an area where railroad cars enter the building to deliver coal used to power the mill.

The local sheriff’s office reported that smoldering particles ignited other particles, causing a flash fire, during maintenance of a piece of equipment used to filter coal dust. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the accident.

The Biron mill, which has 429 employees, produces fine coated paper used in catalogs and magazines.