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Fire related inquiries
This page has a database of fire related inquiries and reports, as well as resources and information about organisations working in this area. Click on an inquiry to go to its detailed page. Please get in touch if there is a report or inquiry you would like to see added or if you find something which needs to be corrected.
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Fire Inquiries and reports
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The investigations found will be displayed and each has a link to this site's page for the inquiry it comes from, and a page direct to the government link if available.
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Tosco Avon Refinery Petroleum Naphtha Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On February 23, 1999, a fire occurred in the crude unit at Tosco Corporation. Avon oil refinery in Martinez, California. Workers were attempting to replace piping attached to a 150-foot-tall fractionator tower while the process unit was in operation. During removal of the piping, naphtha was released onto the hot fractionator and ignited. The flames engulfed five workers located at different heights on the tower. Four men were killed, and one sustained serious injuries.
Issues
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Gas Condensate Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On February 2, 2001, a fire occurred at Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Burns Harbor mill in Chesterton, Indiana. One Bethlehem Steel millwright and one contractor supervisor died. Four Bethlehem Steel millwrights were injured, one seriously. Workers were attempting to remove a slip blind and a cracked valve from a coke oven gas line leading to a decommissioned furnace. During removal of the valve, flammable liquid was released and ignited.
Issues
Motiva Enterprises Sulfuric Acid Tank Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On July 17, 2001, an explosion occurred at the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Delaware City, Delaware. A work crew had been repairing a catwalk above a sulfuric acid storage tank farm when a spark from their hot work ignited flammable vapors in one of the tanks. This tank had holes in its roof and shell due to corrosion. The tank collapsed, and one the contract workers was killed; eight others were injured. A significant volume of sulfuric acid was released to the environment.
Issues
BLSR Operating Ltd. Vapor Cloud Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, csb
On January 13, 2003, a vapor cloud fire erupted at the BLSR Operating Ltd. oilfield waste disposal facility near Rosharon, Texas, south of Houston. The fire occurred as two vacuum trucks were delivering flammable gas condensate waste for disposal at the facility. Two BLSR employees and one truck driver were fatally burned. Four other workers suffered serious burns but survived.
Issues
Technic Inc. Ventilation System Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On February 7, 2003, a worker was seriously injured in an explosion at Technic Inc. in Cranston, Rhode Island. The explosion occurred during maintenance on a ventilation system connected to multiple chemical reactors, evidently due to an accumulation of hazardous material inside. The plant manufactures precious metal processing chemicals.
Issues
Isotec/Sigma Aldrich Nitric Oxide Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On September 21, 2003, a violent explosion destroyed an underground distillation tower at the Isotec chemical manufacturing plant in Miami Township, Ohio, injuring one worker. The explosion ruptured a carbon monoxide gas pipe and led to a precautionary evacuation of about 2000 residents. The Isotec facility manufactures rare forms of oxygen and nitrogen, known as stable isotopes, which are used in research and medicine.
Issues
West Pharmaceutical Services Dust Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On January 29, 2003, an explosion and fire destroyed the West Pharmaceutical Services plant in Kinston, North Carolina, causing six deaths, dozens of injuries, and hundreds of job losses. The facility produced rubber stoppers and other products for medical use. The fuel for the explosion was a fine plastic powder, which accumulated above a suspended ceiling over a manufacturing area at the plant and ignited.
Issues
CTA Acoustics Dust Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On February 20, 2003, an explosion and fire damaged the CTA Acoustics manufacturing plant in Corbin, Kentucky, fatally injuring seven workers. The facility produced fiberglass insulation for the automotive industry. CSB investigators have found that the explosion was fueled by resin dust accumulated in a production area, likely ignited by flames from a malfunctioning oven. The resin involved was a phenolic binder used in producing fiberglass mats.
Issues
After Katrina: Special Precautions Needed During Oil and Chemical Facility Startup
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
The startup of major processes is a hazardous phase in the operation of oil refineries and chemical plants. Hurricane Katrina has now disrupted production at numerous petrochemical facilities in the Gulf Coast region and caused extensive water and wind damage to facilities in hard-hit areas. Over the coming weeks and months, these facilities will be restarting. This is a time to make sure no more lives are claimed by this tragedy and no further delays occur in the production of essential transportation fuels and chemicals. Facilities should pay particular attention to process safety requirements during this critical period to assure a safe and expeditious return to operation.
Issues
Hayes Lemmerz Dust Explosions and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On the evening of October 29, 2003, a series of explosions severely burned two workers, injured a third, and caused property damage to the Hayes Lemmerz manufacturing plant in Huntington, Indiana. One of the severely burned men subsequently died. The Hayes Lemmerz plant manufactures cast aluminum automotive wheels, and the explosions were fueled by accumulated aluminum dust, a flammable byproduct of the wheel production process.
Issues
Giant Industries Refinery Explosions and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On April 8, 2004, four workers were seriously injured when highly flammable gasoline components were released and ignited at the Giant Industries Ciniza refinery, east of Gallup, New Mexico. The release occurred as maintenance workers were removing a malfunctioning pump from the refinery's hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation unit. Unknown to personnel, a shut-off valve connecting the pump to a distillation column was apparently in the open position, leading to the release and subsequent explosions.
Issues
Acetylene Service Company Gas Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On January 25, 2005, a gas explosion killed three workers at the Acetylene Service Company plant in Perth Amboy, NJ. The blast originated in a wooden shed located near six large storage tanks that received liquid waste from the plant's acetylene generating system. The plant produces, repackages, and distributes acetylene used in welding.
Issues
Sterigenics Ethylene Oxide Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on August 19, 2004, an explosion occurred inside an ethylene oxide sterilization chamber and an associated thermal oxidizer at the Sterigenics facility in Ontario, California. Four employees suffered minor injuries and the facility was rendered unusable.
Issues
Marcus Oil and Chemical Tank Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On the evening of December 3, a storage tank failed catastrophically at the Marcus Oil and Chemical polyethylene wax facility in Houston. The blast, which was felt up to 20 miles from the plant site, ignited large fires that burned for several hours, and two firefighters were injured during the emergency response. Off-site buildings near the facility - including two churches, a house, and a social club - exhibited structural damage, such as broken windows and cracked walls.
Issues
Praxair Flammable Gas Cylinder Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On June 24, 2005, fire swept through thousands of flammable gas cylinders at the Praxair gas repackaging plant in St. Louis, Missouri. Dozens of exploding cylinders were launched into the surrounding community and struck nearby homes, buildings, and cars, causing extensive damage and several small fires.
Issues
Formosa Plastics Propylene Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
A forklift towing a trailer collided with a line containing highly flammable liquid propylene, causing a release and a vapor cloud explosion. Sixteen workers were injured, the process unit was heavily damaged, and a nearby school was evacuated
Issues
Positive Material Verification: Prevent Errors
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On July 28, 2005, 4 months after a devastating incident in the Isomerization (Isom) Unit that killed 15 workers and injured 180, the BP Texas City refinery experienced a major fire in the Resid Hydrotreater Unit (RHU) that caused a reported $30 million in property damage. One employee sustained a minor injury during the emergency unit shutdown and there were no fatalities.
Issues
Formosa Plastics Vinyl Chloride Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On April 23, 2004, five workers were fatally injured and two others were seriously injured when an explosion occurred in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production unit at Formosa Plastics in Illiopolis, Illinois, east of Springfield. The explosion followed a release of highly flammable vinyl chloride, which ignited. The explosion forced a community evacuation and lighted fires that burned for several days at the plant.
Issues
BP America (Texas City) Refinery Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on March 23, 2005, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. Fifteen workers were killed and 180 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around work trailers located near an atmospheric vent stack. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, causing a geyser-like release from the vent stack.
Issues
Universal Form Clamp Co. Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
One fatality and five injuries resulted from an explosion and fire in a mixing room at the Universal Form Clamp facility. Workers were heating and mixing flammable solvents in an open top tank. During the heating process, there was a sudden evolution of flammable vapors that ignited, resulting in the explosion and fire.
Issues
Partridge Raleigh Oilfield Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
Three contractors died and one contractor suffered serious injuries in an explosion and fire at the Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield. The contractors, all employees of Stringer Oilfield Services, were standing on top of a series of four oil production tanks. They were preparing to weld piping to the tanks when a welding tool likely ignited flammable vapors from the tanks.
Issues
EQ Hazardous Waste Plant Explosions and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
Explosions and fire at a hazardous waste facility forced the evacuation of approximately 16,000 residents from Apex, North Carolina, on October 5, 2006. The incident likely began in the oxidizer section of the EQ North Carolina waste facility, where chemicals such as pool chlorination tablets were stored. The fire was allowed to burn out and the facility was destroyed.
Issues
Barton Solvents Explosions and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On July 17, 2007, explosions and fire erupted at the Barton Solvents facility in Valley Center, Kansas, north of Wichita. The incident led to the evacuation of thousands of residents and resulted in projectile damage offsite, as well as extensive damage to the facility.
Issues
Valero McKee Refinery Propane Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, csb
On February 16, 2007, a propane fire erupted at the Valero McKee Refinery in Sunray, Texas, north of Amarillo. Three workers suffered serious burns, and the refinery was forced to shut down. The fire began following a leak in the propane deasphalting unit and spread quickly, in part because of the rapid collapse of a major pipe rack carrying flammable hydrocarbons. Some of the rack's support columns had not been fireproofed.
Issues
Barton Solvents Flammable Liquid Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On October 29, 2007, a fire and series of explosions occurred at the Barton Solvents chemical distribution facility in Des Moines, Iowa, . The initial fire started in the packaging area while a 300-gallon portable steel tank was being filled with ethyl acetate, a flammable solvent.
Issues
Imperial Sugar Company Dust Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On February 7, 2008, a huge explosion and fire occurred at the Imperial Sugar refinery northwest of Savannah, Georgia, causing 14 deaths and injuring 38 others, including 14 with serious and life-threatening burns. The explosion was fueled by massive accumulations of combustible sugar dust throughout the packaging building.
Issues
Packaging Corporation Storage Tank Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, Hot work, csb
On July 29, 2008, three workers died and a fourth was injured when an explosion occurred inside an 80-foot-tall storage tank at the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) corrugated cardboard mill in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The workers were on a catwalk above the tank and performing hot work (welding) at the time of the explosion. The storage tank held a mixture of recycled paper pulp and water which the CSB found decomposed to form flammable hydrogen.
Issues
Veolia Environmental Services Flammable Vapor Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On May 4, 2009, flammable vapors were suddenly released into the atmosphere. The vapors found an ignition source, leading to an explosion and fire that seriously injured two workers and damaged twenty residences.
Issues
Bayer Crop Science Pesticide Waste Tank Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
Two workers were fatally injured when a waste tank containing the pesticide methomyl violently exploded, damaging a process unit at the Bayer CropScience chemical plant in Institute, West Virginia.
Issues
Hoeganaes Corporation Fatal Flash Fires
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
Three combustible dust incidents over a six month period occurred at the Hoeganaes facility in Gallatin, TN, resulting in fatal injuries to five workers. The facility produces powdered iron and is located about twenty miles outside of Nashville.
Issues
E. I. DuPont De Nemours Co. Fatal Hotwork Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, Hot work, csb
Two contractors were performing welding atop a 10,000 gallon slurry tank when hot sparks ignited flammable vapors inside the tank, causing an explosion that killed one contractor and seriously injured another.
Issues
Carbide Industries Fire and Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
Two workers were killed and two others injured as a result of a fire and explosion that occurred at the Carbide Industries facility located in Louisville, KY; the facility produces calcium carbide products.
Issues
Silver Eagle Refinery Flash Fire and Explosion and Catastrophic Pipe Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On the evening of January 12, 2009, 2 refinery operators and 2 contractors suffered serious burns resulting from a flash fire at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. The accident occurred when a large flammable vapor cloud was released from an atmospheric storage tank, known as tank 105, which contained an estimated 440,000 gallons of light naphtha. The vapor cloud found an ignition source and the ensuing flash fire spread up to 230 feet west of the tank farm. On November 4, 2009, a second accident occurred at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah, when a powerful blast wave - - caused by the failure of a 10 inch pipe - damaged nearby homes.
Issues
Tesoro Anacortes Refinery Fatal Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
An explosion and fire led to the fatal injury of seven employees when a nearly forty-year-old heat exchanger catastrophically failed during a maintenance operation to switch a process stream between two parallel banks of exchangers at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington
Issues
AL Solutions Fatal Dust Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
An explosion ripped through the New Cumberland A.L. Solutions titanium plant in West Virginia on December 9, 2010, fatally injuring three workers. The workers were processing titanium powder, which is highly flammable, at the time of the explosion.
Issues
Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
An August 6, 2012, release of flammable vapor led to a fire at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California. The CSB released three investigation reports into this incident - an Interim Report, a Regulatory Report and a Final Report.
Issues
Horsehead Holding Company Fatal Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On July 22, 2010, an explosion and fire killed two workers at the Horsehead Holding Company zinc recycling facility located in Monaca, PA. The facility recycles and purifies zinc through a high temperature distillation process and is located approximately 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Issues
Caribbean Petroleum Corporation (CAPECO) Refinery Tank Explosion and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
A massive fire and explosion sent huge flames and smoke plumes into the air at the Carribean Petroleum Corporation near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The resulting pressure wave damaged surrounding buildings and impacted moving vehicles.
Issues
Macondo Blowout and Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On April 20, 2010, a sudden explosion and fire occurred on the oil rig. The accident resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and caused a massive, ongoing oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico. The rig was located approximately 50 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana, and had a 126-member crew onboard.
Issues
AirGas Facility Fatal Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Explosion, Fire, csb
On Sunday, August 28, 2016, at approximately 12:10 pm, a nitrous oxide trailer truck exploded at the Airgas manufacturing facility in Cantonment, Florida. The explosion killed the only Airgas employee present and heavily damaged the facility, halting nitrous oxide manufacturing at Cantonment indefinitely.
Issues
ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
A February 18, 2015, explosion in a gasoline processing unit at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA, led to two workers suffering minor injuries and debris being dispersed into the surrounding community.
Issues
Delaware City Refining Company
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On Sunday, November 29, 2015, an operator at the Delaware City Refining Company’s (DCRC) Kellogg Alkylation Unit suffered second degree burns to his face and neck areas while performing de-inventorying activities on a vessel in preparation for the removal of a pipe spool from a connected process. This incident follows two other incidents at the same facility which occurred on August 21, and August 28, 2015.
Issues
ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery Chemical Release and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On November 22, 2016, an isobutane release occurred in the sulfuric acid alkylation unit at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which resulted in four serious injuries to workers and injured two others. The incident occurred during minor maintenance on a flammable isobutane line which failed, releasing isobutane into the unit which ignited.
Issues
Packaging Corporation of America Hot Work Explosion
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Hot work, Explosion, Fire, csb
On February 8, 2017, three contractors were fatally injured and seven contractors sustained injuries in an explosion at the Packaging Corporation of America facility in DeRidder, LA. The fatally injured contractors were conducting hot work activities near a tank which contained a flammable atmosphere and ultimately exploded.
Issues
Arkema Inc. Chemical Plant Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On August 29, 2017, flooding from Hurricane Harvey disabled the refrigeration system at the Arkema plant in Crosby, TX, which manufactures organic peroxides. The following day people within a 1.5 mile radius were evacuated. As the trailers increased in temperature the peroxides spontaneously combusted on August 31. Officials ignited the remaining trailers, on Sunday, September 3, 2017. The evacuation zone was lifted on September 4, 2017.?
Issues
Evergreen Packaging Paper Mill - Fire During Hot Work
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Hot work, csb
On Monday September 21, 2020, a fire occurred at the Evergreen Packaging Mill in Canton, NC. During a scheduled maintenance event, a fire occurred during a repair to a process unit. Two contractors were fatally injured as a result of the incident.
Issues
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery Fire and Explosions
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
At approximately 4 am on Friday June 21, 2019 there was a release of vapor in the PES refinery alkylation unit. The vapor found an ignition source, causing a fire and multiple explosions.
Issues
Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
An explosion at Kuraray America on May 19, 2018, injured 21 workers at the EVAL facility in Pasadena, Texas. The facility manufactures ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymers, sold as EVAL. Kuraray America is a Tokyo-based specialty chemical manufacturer.
Issues
Wacker Polysilicon Chemical Release
Themes
Chemical, Industry, Safety, Fire, Explosion, csb
On Friday November 13, 2020, at approximately 10:04 a.m. EST, seven workers were exposed to a release of hydrochloric acid during a maintenance activity at the Wacker Polysilicon North America facility in Charleston, Tennessee. One of the workers was fatally injured, and three other workers sustained serious injuries.
Issues
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