Verso Paper billed $350K for mill fire

The Verso paper mill in Sartell
The Verso paper mill in Sartell, where one person was killed and five were injured in an explosion in May that caused a large fire.
MPR Photo/Conrad Wilson

Verso Paper has been billed $350,000 by fire departments who responded to an explosion and fire at its mill in Sartell.

Nearly 60 of 93 fire departments that responded to the Memorial Day fire have billed the company for time and equipment. The explosion and fire killed one worker, Jon Maus, and injured four others. The mill has not been in operation since the fire and more than 250 employees are without work.

The St. Cloud Times reports cities that are part of the Central Minnesota mutual aid agreement did not charge for the first 8 hours of work. Firefighters were on the scene at the mill for more than a week. The cause of the explosion and fire has not yet been officially determined.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times