PHOENIX, Ariz. — A woman in the Valley is grieving the tragic loss of her nephew and his two young daughters following a devastating explosion at a Nebraska biofuels plant this week. The explosion, which occurred during the early hours of Tuesday, left family members clinging to hope for hours before their worst fears were confirmed.
Kathy Harle recounted the chaos that unfolded at the plant, where her nephew, Dylan Danielson, 32, was the sole employee present. His two daughters, Hayven, 12, and Feya, 8, were with him that day, waiting in a break room. Harle described the heartbreaking moment when everything changed in an instant as footage of the blast emerged.
“They were good kids. He was such a devoted father,” Harle said, her voice heavy with sorrow. On Tuesday, after the explosion, Harle’s stepfather shared his despair at the scene, stating, “Half my world is here right now, and I’m close, but I can’t get any closer.” The children were spending time with their father during a scheduled visitation.
By Wednesday, rescue workers recovered all three bodies from the debris. Harle revealed that Danielson had managed to contact his wife shortly before the building collapsed, informing her of the girls’ whereabouts in the break room. “He heard the first explosion and was still on the phone when the last one occurred,” she said.
The plant primarily produces animal bedding and wood pellets, materials that can ignite easily under certain conditions. “When you’re working with wood, it’s like firewood logs — they can burn quickly,” Harle explained. Investigations into the blast are ongoing. It’s notable that the building had remained structurally sound following a 2014 fire that had previously damaged its electrical system.
In the aftermath of this devastating event, Harle is focusing on honoring the joyful memories of her lost family members. “I feel like this is very healing. I think maybe it’s to honor them,” she reflected. As the community grapples with this tragedy, tributes and memories continue to emerge, highlighting the bright spirits of a young father and his daughters taken too soon.