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ATWATER, Minn. (AP) A gas leak sent flames 30 feet in the air at an ethanol plant cooperative near Atwater.

Nine fire departments were called at about 7 a.m. Saturday to the Bushmills ethanol plant, about a mile west of Atwater. It was extinguished about 8:45 a.m.

Willmar Fire Chief Marv Calvin says the plant was not on fire and no ethanol burned.

Fire fighters shut off the natural gas line and allowed the remaining gas in the supply lines burn off. Some unleaded fuel also burned off.

No one was hurt. Officials planned to investigate the cause.

The Bushmills ethanol plant's Web site says it is a cooperative made up of 415 farmers. The plant began running on December 30, 2005 and produces about 49 million gallons of ethanol every year.

Information from: KARE-TV, http://www.kare11.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-24-09 1835CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list