No Injuries Reported in Explosion at Androscoggin Paper Mill in Jay, Maine

A massive explosion in the pulp mill rocked the Androscoggin Mill on Wednesday morning, sending a dark plume of smoke and debris hundreds of feet into the air.

A spokeswoman for mill-owner Pixelle Specialty Solutions said it was caused by an “apparent rupture in a pressure vessel” at 11:55 a.m.

“We are in the preliminary stages of assessing the situation,” Human Resources Manager Roxie Lassetter said in a prepared statement Wednesday afternoon. “First and foremost is our concern for the safety of our employees, contractors and visitors on our mill site. Everyone on site is accounted for and there are no injuries.”