Le Mars fire fighters were among those responding to an explosion Wednesday afternoon at the Midwest Farmers Cooperative in Alton. A Remsen man, Matthew Galles, was injured in the explosion. This photo, taken from the bridge on Hwy 10 over the Floyd River, shows structural damage -- a crack on the right side of the grain elevator. The scaffolding on top is also damaged. [Click to enlarge]

ALTON, Iowa (AP) -- One person has been injured in a fiery explosion at a grain elevator in Alton in northwest Iowa.

Officials say Matthew Galles, 31, of Remsen, was unloading grain at the Midwest Farmers Cooperative on Wednesday when the explosion occurred about 3:15 p.m.

Galles was taken to a hospital in Orange City, then flown to St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb.

A hospital spokesman says Galles was in stable condition on Thursday.

Alton Fire Chief Frank Van Es says Galles saw a flash and tried to run but was blown to the ground.

The explosion damaged equipment and at least one of the six concrete grain silos at the co-op, which is on the north side of Alton. The cause of the blast remains under investigation.

Fire departments from Alton, Orange City, Sioux Center and Le Mars responded to the call. The Le Mars Fire Department was called 3:21 p.m. to assist at the scene. They returned to Le Mars at 9:05 p.m.