Local photographer Kathy Gray Anderson shared this lovely photo of a group of ducks on Devil Track Lake with the following quip, “I’m not sure if he is a preacher, choir director, candidate, or just trying to get his ducks in a row for their upcoming flight south.”
Although it has been a struggle, Joe Fredrickson, 41, of Silver Bay is slowly recovering from injuries suffered in a coalbunker explosion while he worked at Minnesota Power Taconite Harbor Energy as a fuels technician.
Big Joe, as his friends and family know him, has been a long-time worker at the Schroeder plant.
The accident happened at about 9 a.m. on Friday, October 26. Fredrickson was alone in the bunker when the explosion occurred. He was burned over approximately half of his body before being rescued. He was taken by ambulance to Cook County North Shore Hospital and then taken to Duluth to Essentia Health (formerly St. Mary’s hospital) where he was treated for his injuries.
Fredrickson is now at the Essentia-Miller Dwan burn unit in Duluth where he is undergoing a series of skin grafts as doctors monitor his burns for infection.
Minnesota Power took over the ownership of the 225 megawatt coal-fired power plant about 11 years ago from Cleveland Cliffs. The company has greatly upgraded equipment and improved working conditions at the plant. However, coal bunker fires and explosions can and do occur occasionally due to the incendiary nature of the coal.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been announced. Minnesota Power information director Amy Rutledge was unavailable for comment at press time regarding the cause of the accident.
To follow Joe’s progress, go to the Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/josephfredrickson1.
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