On July 29, 2025, an explosion at the Horizon Biofuels plant in Fremont, Nebraska, claimed 12-year-old Hayven Danielson, her 8-year-old sister Feya, and their 32-year-old father, Dylan.
The community is devastated by the loss of a talented young athlete, her sister, and their father.
Hayven’s kindness and bright smile impacted many lives, and her sudden passing has saddened people well beyond Nebraska.
Hayven Danielson Was A Remarkable Wrestler And a Source of Inspiration in Her Community
Preparing to enter 7th grade, Hayven was a beloved member of the Nebraska wrestling family and a student of Wahoo Public Schools.
A Facebook post from the wrestling community captured the depth of their grief:
Hayven’s passion for wrestling was evident in her dedication and the way she inspired her teammates.
Her coaches and peers remember her as a fierce competitor with a gentle heart, always ready to encourage others.
She was a role model for younger athletes, showing them that strength came not just from physical ability but from kindness and perseverance.
On that fateful Tuesday, Hayven and Feya were sitting in the break room at their father’s workplace, waiting for him to finish his shift at Horizon Biofuels.
The family had a doctor’s appointment scheduled, a routine moment that turned fatal in an instant.
According to Kathy Harle, Hayven’s great-aunt, Dylan was the only employee inside the plant when the explosion occurred.
In his final moments, pinned amidst the collapsing building and surrounded by fire, Dylan made a desperate call to his wife, telling her where the girls were in hopes they could be saved.
Harle recounted the heartbreaking details:
“He was able to call his wife and tell her where the girls were because he heard the first explosion, and he was still talking to her and heard the second, and then the last one blew, and the break room, where the girls were, collapsed.”
Via AZfamily
The explosion was so powerful that it tore off the top of the plant’s tall elevator tower, exposing mangled concrete and rebar.
The metal walls of the building crumpled, and debris littered the ground.
Firefighters described the scene as “complex and hazardous,” with heavy smoke, intense flames, and structural collapse making rescue efforts nearly impossible.
For over 24 hours, the community attached to the hope that Dylan, Hayven, and Feya might be found alive.
But by Wednesday, all three bodies were recovered from the rubble, crushing the hearts of those who knew and loved them.
Fremont, A City of Around 27,000, Faced a Tragic Industrial Accident That Deeply Affected Its Community
Horizon Biofuels produces animal bedding and wood pellets for heating and smoking food, using tons of wood waste.
Authorities believe the blast was likely caused by a wood dust explosion in the elevator tower, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The plant had previously experienced a fire in 2014 that damaged its electrical system, but the building had remained intact. This time, the destruction was severe.
The Nebraska wrestling community, in particular, has been devastated by Hayven’s loss.
Brandon Zetocka Hayven’s teacher at Wahoo Middle School wrote:
“I had the privilege of being Hayven’s 6th grade Social Studies at Wahoo Middle School this past school year and was looking forward to having her again this upcoming fall. She was an absolute sweet heart. I’ll always remember her for not only being a wonderful student, but a polite, kind, intelligent, funny, and hard working young lady. My heart hurts for Hayven, her sister, and father that sadly passed away too in this accident. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families.”
Via Facebook
Brandon Zetocka
“This is so sad. May they rest in peace. For the two girls it’s just being in wrong place at wrong time. Oh so sad.”
Via Facebook
Another community member, Terry Haite, wrote:
“Just way too soon. She had her whole life ahead of her. 😥 There is a reason why God calls little ones home; heaven would be a boring place without children. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.”
Via Facebook
These words reflect a community coping with a deep loss.
Hayven’s teammates, coaches, and friends are feeling the emptiness left by her absence, while her family endures immense grief.
The response to the explosion was swift but fraught with challenges.
Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt described the initial scene:
“He was able to call his wife and tell him tell her where the girls were because he heard the first explosion and he was still talking to her and heard the second, and then the last one blew and the break room, where the girls were, collapsed.”
Via AZFamily
The mangled steel and unstable building prevented firefighters from entering, forcing them to call in Nebraska Task Force One, a specialized urban search and rescue team with expertise in structural issues.
Despite their efforts, the ongoing fire and concerns about the building’s stability delayed recovery efforts for hours.
Drone footage captured by an eyewitness showed the extent of the damage, with crews spraying water at the burning wreckage.
The community watched in anguish as the rescue mission turned into a recovery operation.
As Fremont mourns, the community is coming together to support the Danielson family.
The wrestling community has decided to keep Hayven’s spirit alive, perhaps through scholarships or tournaments in her name.
Her teammates vow to carry her strength and kindness onto the mat, ensuring her legacy endures.
Hayven Danielson’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can change.
She was a wrestler, a daughter, a sister, and a friend—a 12-year-old girl with dreams as big as her heart.
Though she and her family were taken too soon, their memory will live on in the love and support of a community forever changed by their presence.
