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The mother of one of the girls killed in a deadly plant explosion in Fremont last year has filed a lawsuit against Horizon Biofuels.An employee at the plant, 32-year-old Dylan Danielson, and his two daughters, 12-year-old Hayven and 8-year-old Fayeah, died in the blast in July 2025.Horizon Biofuels owned the plant at the time of the explosion.Lauren Baker, Hayven’s mother, said her 12-year-old daughter was in the facility’s breakroom when the explosion occurred, according to court documents. Family identifies girls killed in explosion at Horizon Biofuels plantThe lawsuit states in February 2025, five months before the explosion, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy did an air quality investigation at the plant after reports of wood dust blowing onto nearby properties.They closed the plant to fix the issue, then reopened.READ MORE: OSHA fines Horizon Biofuels after deadly Fremont plant explosionThe U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said its evidence shows the explosion happened when a large release of combustible wood product ignited, which was most likely wood dust. Nebraska state fire investigators also believe an accidental dust fire caused the explosion. Horizon Biofuels “owed a duty to exercise reasonable care in the ownership, operation, maintenance and control of its Fremont facility,” the lawsuit states.According to the lawsuit, Hayven should not have been allowed in the building and Horizon Biofuels should have had a policy to prevent minors on the property.Video shows moment of explosion at Fremont plantAfter the explosion, KETV Investigates looked into the company’s record with OSHA and found five serious violations stemming from a complaint filed in 2012. Horizon Biofuels was initially given a $12,000 penalty, but settled for $6,000. No other issues were found with OSHA.Investigators found Horizon Biofuels employed five people at the facility, but only Danielson was there that day, according to a report from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
The mother of one of the girls killed in a deadly plant explosion in Fremont last year has filed a lawsuit against Horizon Biofuels.
An employee at the plant, 32-year-old Dylan Danielson, and his two daughters, 12-year-old Hayven and 8-year-old Fayeah, died in the blast in July 2025.
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Horizon Biofuels owned the plant at the time of the explosion.
Lauren Baker, Hayven’s mother, said her 12-year-old daughter was in the facility’s breakroom when the explosion occurred, according to court documents.
Family identifies girls killed in explosion at Horizon Biofuels plant
The lawsuit states in February 2025, five months before the explosion, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy did an air quality investigation at the plant after reports of wood dust blowing onto nearby properties.
They closed the plant to fix the issue, then reopened.
READ MORE: OSHA fines Horizon Biofuels after deadly Fremont plant explosion
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said its evidence shows the explosion happened when a large release of combustible wood product ignited, which was most likely wood dust. Nebraska state fire investigators also believe an accidental dust fire caused the explosion.
Horizon Biofuels “owed a duty to exercise reasonable care in the ownership, operation, maintenance and control of its Fremont facility,” the lawsuit states.
According to the lawsuit, Hayven should not have been allowed in the building and Horizon Biofuels should have had a policy to prevent minors on the property.
Video shows moment of explosion at Fremont plant
After the explosion, KETV Investigates looked into the company’s record with OSHA and found five serious violations stemming from a complaint filed in 2012. Horizon Biofuels was initially given a $12,000 penalty, but settled for $6,000. No other issues were found with OSHA.
Investigators found Horizon Biofuels employed five people at the facility, but only Danielson was there that day, according to a report from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
