Hotwork Accidents #11
This page was last updated on 05/06/2010
UPDATE Welder dies after explosion
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer Wednesday, July 16, 2003
FRAMINGHAM — Christopher Lyon’s family left a Boston hospital Monday night happy because a doctor told them the Connecticut welder injured in an explosion two weeks ago looked as if he was going to make a full recovery. Early yesterday morning, the Lyon family received a call from Massachusetts General Hospital telling them Lyon, 31, had died from injuries he suffered in the explosion on July 3 at the Triram Corporation at 721 Waverley St. “The last conversation we had with the doctors was that they fully expected him to make an almost 100 percent recovery,” said Lyon’s brother, Dale Lyon of Brooklyn, Conn. “We were ecstatic. The doctors were ecstatic. We left there last night, and he (the doctor) said they expected a 100 percent recovery. They were blown away by how good his recovery was going. “He had a brain injury, but he was responding well,” Lyon continued. “He was talking. He was up, standing. He wanted to walk, but the doctors didn’t want him to walk yet. He was almost normal. He speech was slurred and his vision was blurred, but those could have been corrected through therapy,” Lyon said. Lyon family members were not the only ones shocked. Framingham Fire Chief Michael Smith said his department was startled when it got the news yesterday. “It took us quite by surprise this morning,” said Smith. “The last we heard, he was showing signs of improvement. We thought he was out of danger. It’s very sad news.” Lyon was welding on top of a 28-foot, 15,000-gallon asphalt container on the afternoon of July 3 when the heat from the welding torch caused the fumes in the tank to explode. Fire officials said he was thrown to the ground, and suffered serious injuries. He was taken by a medical rescue helicopter to Massachusetts General, where he remained until his death. Firefighters rushed to the factory and called for assistance from the Ashland and Hopkinton fire departments. In all, more than 20 firefighters with several vehicles used chemical foam to fight the blaze for more than an hour before it was under control. Company officials would not comment yesterday about the incident or Lyon’s death. Smith had said the work on the tank was being done without a required welding permit, but no fine was expected against Lyon or the company because it did not appear they purposely avoided getting the permit. The incident is still being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office, the Framingham Fire Department and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “The investigation is ongoing, and with the sad news, we’ll have no further comment until the investigation is completed,” Smith said. Dale Lyon said his brother worked hard for everything he got, including his own welding business with clients ranging from MetroWest to Manhattan. “He started this business from scratch — from nothing,” said Lyon. “He had nothing handed to him. We came from a big family, with a lot of kids (five). He had a lot of hard knocks, and he worked his way up.” Despite starting small, Lyon’s talent made him known in welding circles, his brother said. “He had an awesome reputation for his work, his fabrication work,” said Dale Lyon. “He did some wonderful work. He was a talented artist when it came to steel. “He was a kid who loved life. It didn’t take a lot to please him. He was happy.” Christopher Lyon, who along with his wife, Bernadette, and their three dogs, lived in Brooklyn, Conn., loved to travel, his brother said. His trips included visiting Scotland and Iceland. He was also an avid motorcyclist, and just liked to have fun, Dale Lyon said. “He was an expert at good food,” said Dale Lyon. “He knew where all the good restaurants were. He loved everything Spanish. He loved Spanish food, Spanish dancing. He was just one of those kids who knew how to have a good time.” Dale Lyon said he doesn’t know how the explosion could have happened, and said his brother wouldn’t have done the work if he knew he needed a permit. “It was horrendous,” said Lyon. “Unfortunately, these things happen. Somebody made a mistake somewhere. He should have never been up there.” Christopher Lyon woke up last Thursday, after being unconscious for a week. Doctors said a brain injury would limit his short-term memory, and he would need surgery to his arm, Dale Lyon said. Even with the brain damage, it looked as if the welder was recovering, even getting his short-term memory back faster than doctors expected, according to Dale Lyon. Although the cause of death hasn’t been determined, Dale Lyon said the brain injury is suspected of playing a part. “Doctors just don’t know much about the brain,” said Lyon. “They said they wouldn’t know the exact extent of his recovery until he recovered. We understand so little. We’re in the dark.”
UPDATE Haulage firm fined £7,000 for explosion
Jul 16, 2003, 14:18:00
A haulage firm near Lichfield has been fined £7,000 by magistrates after a mechanic suffered horrific burns in an explosion while working on a lorry’s fuel tank. South Staffordshire Freight Services in Shenstone failed to ensure the safety of employees, Tamworth and Lichfield magistrates heard. Stuart Young, aged 47, from Tamworth was working on a lorry when the heat ignited fumes in the diesel tank which exploded on April 8 last year. The Lynn Lane company, which must also pay £931 costs, pleaded guilty yesterday to the charge that all practical steps were not taken to remove diesel fuel and any fumes before work was carried out on the tank. The company also pleaded guilty to failing to carry out suitable risk assessments. Charles Crow, defending, said the company’s haulage operation of 30 lorries, set up more than 40 years ago, would close at the end of the year, due in part to the accident.
Fire destroys Valley business, home; Little Falls family has no insurance to cover losses
By ELIZABETH A. MUNDSCHENK, Observer-Dispatch
LITTLE FALLS — A raging fire Monday morning on Route 5 destroyed an auto body business and devastated the family that lived above it. Ellis Bruce — owner of Alpine Auto Mall – his wife, two children and three grandchildren were left homeless and without most of their possessions because of the fire, which broke out about 9:55 a.m., officials said. No one was seriously hurt, although Bruce’s wife, Janice, was taken to the hospital, treated and released, officials said. “They had no insurance on anything,” said Kelly Brown, director of emergency services for the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, which is assisting the family. “This could be long and drawn out for them.” Little Falls Fire Chief Robert Parese said the fire’s cause is believed to be accidental. Assistant Chief Randy Salek said a cutting torch used on a vehicle that was on a lift ignited gasoline that was on the floor. Flames were intense through the cinder block-framed body shop, located prominently on a hill above Route 5 just wet of the Little Falls city line. The building has had a long history that included being the home of the Journal and Courier print shop and the Wishing Well restaurant. It survived an earlier fire. Firefighters — 50 to 60 from Little Falls, Herkimer, East Herkimer, St. Johnsville, Dolgeville and Mohawk — labored in the mid-morning and noontime sun subduing the fire. The highway was closed for several hours Monday. Cars were rerouted, and there was a car accident at the west end of the road closure later in the afternoon. Bruce, clearly hit hard, watched as his home and business were destroyed. He declined comment. “I just don’t feel like talking about it,” he said. The other five victims of the fire were Devin Bruce, Casey Broadbent, Timothy Broadbent, Justin Broadbent and Carrie Bruce. Also responding to the scene was a state Department of Environmental Conservation spill response team and its contractor, Op-Tech Environmental Services of Syracuse. DEC regional spokesman Steve Litwhiler said a small amount of petroleum was observed washing off the property because of the firefighting efforts. Booms were used to soak up the contaminated soil, and water in ditches along the highway was sucked out, Litwhiler said. Some affected soil will be disposed of at a secure landfill. Salek said the oil came from the tires. The Red Cross is taking care of some immediate needs, including replacement of prescription medicines and eyeglasses, Brown said. The family has found a place to stay for the time being, he said. The Red Cross is willing to accept monetary donations but does not have the facilities for furniture or other goods, Brown said. Those who would like to make such donations, may call the Red Cross at 866-2890, and the agency can contact the family to see if the items are needed, he said.
Man suffers burns from fridge repair accident; Weld job breaks coolant fluid line and catches fire
The Post-Crescent
CENTER — A 42-year-old man trying to remove a refrigerator from an old mobile home Sunday suffered burns on his arm, shoulders, neck and ear after an ammonia line broke. Fire and sheriff’s department officials identified the man as Mark Schmit, W4095 County S, Appleton. He was flown from his home by ThedaStar helicopter after the 1:30 p.m. accident. Officials said the injuries were not life-threatening. He was reported in fair condition Sunday evening at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. Town of Center Fire Chief Jim Simon said Schmit apparently was converting the old trailer when the line broke and caught fire. “The line broke and he got sprayed with ammonia,” Simon said. “It started on fire at the same time so he got burned.” He said the fire extinguished itself and did not cause any damage to the trailer. The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department reported that Schmit was welding when the line broke, causing the fire.
Welder electrocuted at Gainesville construction site
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A welder was apparently electrocuted while working on a metal balcony at a construction site, authorities said. Javier Gonzales, 37, of Norcross, Ga., died in Sunday’s accident, said Sgt. Keith Faulk, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Workers told authorities that Gonzales, an employee of Allen Steel Products of Arlington, Tenn., was installing a metal subfloor on a balcony using an 8,000 watt welding machine. A co-worker said he left Gonzales to retrieve some material and returned to find him unconscious and not breathing. Workers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until emergency medical workers arrived. Although detectives are awaiting the results of an autopsy, authorities believe he was electrocuted by the welding machine, Faulk said. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, Faulk said. Associated Press
UPDATE Company in explosion lacked storage permits; Triram cited by OSHA in past on safety
By Benjamin Gedan, Globe Correspondent, 7/14/2003
An investigation by the state fire marshal’s office into a July 3 explosion at a Framingham asphalt factory has found that the company did not have proper local or state permits for its massive storage tanks. The explosion of a 15,000-gallon tank filled with liquid asphalt seriously injured two metal workers, one of whom remains hospitalized. The company, Triram Corp., which is also being investigated by federal officials, had been cited six times by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for minor violations of industrial safety codes. A search of OSHA documents showed violations dating back to 1976, when the company was fined $40 for improper asbestos removal, and include a 1978 complaint related to improper fire prevention and protection. Only the 1976 violation resulted in a penalty. The Framingham Fire Department, the state fire marshal’s office, and the US Department of Labor are investigating the massive explosion, which occurred after the two workers, using a cutting torch, ignited flammable fumes above the tank. On Friday, Framingham Fire Marshal Joe Leone and Fire Chief Michael Smith toured the sprawling facility with John Fleck, a code compliance officer for the state fire marshal’s office. Fleck’s supervisor also inspected the property, where the mangled tower and snaking driveway are still stained with tar. The investigations are continuing, but in interviews last week, state officials said they had uncovered a permitting violation, in addition to the lack of a welding permit. Triram officials failed to comply with a 1997 state law mandating permits for tanks that hold over 10,000 gallons, said Jennifer Mieth, a state spokeswoman. Only water tanks are exempt from the regulation. The Framingham facility houses 12 above-ground tanks that hold over 10,000 gallons of liquid asphalt, Leone said. The tanks were also holding more material than allowed under a local license, Mieth said. ”The tanks had no known permits,” she said. ”They need to get their permits in line.” The workers, both private contractors, lacked a mandatory permit from the Fire Department to work on the storage towers. The permit would have required the company to either empty the tank or treat it with inert gases. Framingham fire officials said the company, founded in 1954 and now an affiliate of the Hudson Asphalt Group in the Rhode Island-based The Hudson Companies, had never applied for a welding permit. State officials have closed the Waverly Street facility pending proper permits and an inspection by a mechanical engineer.Company president Donald Cunningham could not be reached for comment, and a spokesman for The Hudson Companies, Matt Gill, did not respond to several interview requests. Before the explosion, Leone said, Triram Corp. had maintained an impressive safety record and elicited no complaints from its nonindustrial neighbors. The company manufactures specialty asphalt in Framingham and in Portland, Conn. ‘It is the type of company that is conscientious about what they’re doing,” Leone said. Company officials had previously obtained permits for repair work on fire alarms and the sprinkler system, he said. Paulo Roda, an employee at the Framingham complex, said on the day of the explosion that there had been no major accidents in the past two years. Triram could face costly fines from multiple agencies. OSHA investigators could fine it up to $70,000 for any willful violations of federal code, said Richard Fazzio, an area director. The state fire marshal’s office could fine the company $1,000 for failing to obtain permits for the storage tanks, and another $1,000 for authorizing metal work without written permission. But Mieth, the office’s spokeswoman, said state officials preferred to cooperate with the company to ensure safe working conditions. ”Penalties are always a last resort,” she said. ”Penalties are out there if people are uncooperative. The most important thing is to get them into compliance,” Mieth said. Meanwhile, one of the company’s contractors, Christopher Lyon, remains at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was rushed by helicopter after the explosion hurled him from the top of the 26-foot high tower. Lyon was listed in fair condition on Friday, said Julie Bergan, a hospital spokeswoman. The other injured worker, who has not been identified, was released from the MetroWest Medical Center after being treated for severe arm injuries. Neither worker has been interviewed by investigators, Leone said.
Fire damages William Blount roof
2003-07-13 by Anna C. Irwin of The Daily Times Staff
A fire on the roof at William Blount High School was the first of three fires in quick succession late Friday and early Saturday in Blount County. The fire at the school caused minimal damage and Blount County Schools Director Alvin Hord credited the person who reported the fire as well as the quick response by firefighters. “It could have been a lot worse, if the fire had spread,” Hord said. Alicia C. Mathes, who lives on County Farm Road, near the school, reported the blaze at 11:46 p.m. Friday. She said she could see orange flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof at the back left corner of the school. Blount County Fire Department was notified at 11:50 p.m. Firefighters were on the scene minutes later but were initially hampered by the difficulty in reaching the roof of the two-story building. Greenback Fire Department sent a ladder truck to the scene and provided a way for firemen to get on the roof with hoses and water. Blount County Fire Department had 12 firefighters and six trucks at the school. They were assisted by Greenback, Alcoa and Maryville Fire Department personnel who came to offer their help. The roof fire was brought under control at 12:37 a.m. and the last of the firefighters left the scene at 2:45 a.m. Hord said work on the roof is in progress and it appeared the fire might have been caused when a spark escaped from welding equipment, then smoldered for several hours after workers left Friday afternoon. He said the construction company’s insurance is expected to cover the cost of repairing the fire damage. “Only a small section of the roof was burned, and it was over a locker area near one of the bathrooms. They were able to sweep the water that got inside the building to a drain in the bathroom,” Hord said. “A copy machine got wet, but we don’t yet know if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced. “I was surprised there was very little odor inside the building. The wind was blowing, and it must have carried most of the smoke away,” he said. According to Hord, the section of flat, tar roof that burned and the attic area below it will be cut away and replaced in plenty of time for the school’s registration day set Aug. 1 and the first day of classes Aug. 8. As firemen were responding to the blaze at William Blount High School, a fire alarm began to sound at Mentor Market, 2503 Mentor Road, Louisville. Deputy Gail Anderson said she arrived at 11:55 p.m. to find flames coming from the rear of the building at a small loading dock. Blount County firefighters, including some diverted from the fire at the school, found smoke rolling from the front of the market and the back wall of the building ablaze. Three Blount County fire trucks and seven men brought the market fire under control and were able to leave the scene an hour later at 12:53 a.m. Saturday. The market, owned by David T. Edmonds, Pink Hatcher Lane, Louisville, closed at 8 p.m. Friday, and the clerk left around 8:15 p.m. The cause of the fire is undetermined but is apparently considered suspicious. Blount County Sheriff’s arsonpecialists are investigating. Blount County firefighters were still at the market when a 911 call at 12:47 a.m. Saturday reported a mobile home on fire in Rockford. The fire department was notified at 12:52 a.m. and firefighters reached the William H. Wilson residence on Homer Avenue at 12:57 a.m. Five Blount County fire trucks and nine men, including those who were at the market, responded along with Alcoa Fire Department personnel, an Alcoa rescue truck and an Alcoa pumper. The mobile home fire was under control at 1:06 a.m. but not before more than half the trailer was destroyed. Firefighters left the third fire scene at 2:06 a.m. Saturday, just over half an hour before those at the school fire were able to return to their stations.
Historic warehouse hit by fire must be razed
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
TACOMA — The owner of a historic warehouse destroyed by fire will have to tear it down. The fire at the Alpine Cold Storage building, a brick warehouse downtown, broke out early Wednesday and was still burning in spots yesterday, said Ron Stephens, an acting deputy chief with the Tacoma Fire Department. Investigators believe the fire was started by workers using a torch to remove metal plating from the building’s old wood floor. Structural engineers went into the 56,000-square-foot warehouse yesterday and determined it had to be demolished. The owner purchased the building just two months ago for $400,000 and will have to bear the cost of the demolition, Stephens said. Because the potential for collapse remains, the streets around the building are still closed to traffic. At least two fire crews will remain at the site until the building is down, Stephens said, to ensure the fire does not flare up again.
UPDATE Worker negligence blamed in oil fire
By ROBYN MOORMEISTER Sentinel staff writer
MOSS LANDING — Fire investigators say a construction worker’s negligence caused the raging 13-hour oil fire in a tank at Duke Energy’s power plant Tuesday that sent black smoke billowing across the Pajaro and Salinas valleys. Michael Roberson, fire marshal for the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey County, said a worker with Earth Tech construction company was cutting the massive tank’s floating metal roof with a torch when hot liquid metal dropped and ignited a section of 1.2 million gallons of oil sludge below. Roberson said the tank demolition use permit — issued by the Monterey County Planning Department with input from North County Fire Protection — clearly stipulates “ignition sources are only supposed to be used in the absence of fuel oil.” After the fire ignited Tuesday afternoon, seven construction workers on the roof of the 6 million gallon tank — the cutter, an equipment operator, two fire safety monitoring workers and three laborers — reportedly tried to douse the burgeoning flames ith a water hose. By the time workers were able to poke the hose under the metal floating lid, Roberson said, a 12-by-6-foot piece of cut metal had sealed off the cavity housing the flames. It was the hot liquid droppings from that piece of metal that started the fire. And it was that piece of metal that closed access to fight the fire. Roberson said the hose did more damage than good; water pressure pushed the flames into unreachable areas. The workers were evacuated by Duke Energy management, and no one was hurt in the fire, which moved to and exploded five nearby propane tanks about an hour later. The fire burned for 13 hours while firefighters collected enough foam — approximately 21,000 gallons at $25 per gallon — to finally extinguish it at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday. The 1.2 million gallons of fuel oil at the bottom of the 150-foot-diameter tank was slated for removal for sale to refineries. The tank is one of 19 defunct fuel oil tanks demolished in the wake of Duke Energy’s change to natural gas to power its plant operations. Two tanks remain. Earth Tech spokeswoman Maureen McGlynn said she did not know how long the Long Beach-based company has contracted with Duke Energy. Roberson said the investigation is ongoing, and culpability will not be determined for several weeks. Whoever is to blame for the fire, he said, is responsible for reimbursing the fire department for fire suppression costs — estimated so far at more than $1 million.
Fire evacuates the Old State Capitol Building
Updated: 7/10/2003 By: Kathleen Keener & Web Staff
Work on the old State Capitol Building causes more problems than repairs. The roof caught fire on Wednesday, forcing firefighters to evacuate the building. There were about thirty people in the building but this was a small fire and no one was hurt but streets in the area were closed for hours and it caused some excitement for people who were uptown. Joseph Washington was hard at work at his hotdog stand when he heard the sirens. “I just saw a lot of fire trucks pulling up, and sirens, and Capital City Police running,” said Washington. “I didn’t know what was going on.” A small fire started in the dome of the Capitol while workers were trying to repair leaks. Welding caused the wood below the copper to smolder, and smoke spread quickly. “As soon as that fire alarm went on, it was so shrill that everyone started going out the door, we had no problem getting people out the door,” said Capitol Director Carol Henderson. Firefighters put it out quickly and nothing in the building was damaged. “You certainly think about the historical significance of the building,” said Raleigh Fire Battalion Chief Tommie Steysons. “There are artifacts here that can’t be replaced. You’re always thinking ahead to those things.” Workers credit their safety to the buildings’ fire alarms and smoke detectors. “If this had happened 20 years ago, or even 15 years ago, it might not have been such a happy ending.” This is not the first fire at the Capitol building. In 1831, a soldering tool sparked a fire and destroyed the building.
Fire engulfs trailer
RUSS OLIVO , Staff Writer 07/10/2003
WOONSOCKET — A smoky fire destroyed a cargo trailer filled with hazardous construction debris on Privilege Street Wednesday morning after a welder who was repairing the roof inadvertently ignited the contents of the vehicle, firefighters said. The 48-foot long, metal container was packed with asphalt shingles, asbestos tubing and other construction materials, said Acting Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Williams. To minimize the runoff of potentially tainted water from the site, firefighters relied heavily on fire-suppressing foam to combat the blaze. They were concerned about contaminating the nearby Mill River, which feeds the swimming area at World War II Veterans State Park. On orders from the state Department of Environmental Management, which runs the park, workers closed off the intake valve at the holding pond for the swimming area on East School Street, several blocks away from the fire. Peter Lambert, the caretaker of the park, said chlorine levels in the holding pond were also boosted while firefighters responded to the blaze. DEM and city firefighters both called Lambert shortly after the fire broke out at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. “They were concerned some of their water was going to get into our place,” Lambert said. “We don’t think any did. All of our actions were strictly precautionary.” No one was injured in the fire, which broke through the walls of the cargo container and blackened the tail end of another container parked a few feet away. Williams said the containers are owned by STG Service Transport Corporation of 28 Privilege St. The company, whose principal trade is environmental cleanup, runs a truck depot at the site. Among those who responded to the fire were the fire department’s hazardous materials (Haz-Mat) team and workers from DEM’s hazardous materials division. Williams said it took firefighters about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control using “Class A foam,” a harmless material that looks like soap lather. “It smothers the fire, like a blanket,” said Williams. The asphalt-based products stored in the container were fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, and some areas were very hard to put out, said Williams. Some of the materials inside were made from petroleum, he said, which fueled the fire and burned intensely. Williams said asbestos materials do not burn, but they pose a hazard if they are dispersed into the atmosphere where they can be inhaled. Firefighters protected themselves by breathing through special oxygen tanks while fighting the fire. Normally, the fire department has its own personnel to refill the tanks, but on Wednesday North Smithfield firefighters filled in because the local facilities have been sidelined by a modernization project at the Cumberland Street fire station. Williams said an STG worker had climbed onto the roof of the container to do some welding when sparks from his equipment apparently ignited materials inside. The welder fled safely and the fire was later reported by workers from STG, said Williams, calling the fire accidental. “It was a lot of smoke,” said Jimmy McElroy, who runs L&R Auto Parts, across the street from the STG depot. “I’m surprised they’re out of here so quick. I thought this was going to be an all-day affair.” Workers from the highway department were called in to build a sand dike across Privilege Street to keep the runoff from the fire from getting into the Mill River, which runs from Harris Pond to East School Street, past the STG depot. “We can’t let it spread all over the ground over here, we just have to keep it contained,” said Firefighter Steve Preston, the leader of the Haz-Mat team. “Asbestos is a respiratory hazard, but it doesn’t burn. There’s no real hazard.” A private company, TMC Services Inc., was in charge of cleaning up the site after firefighters left. “We’ll do most of it in-house,” said a man who would identify himself only as an employee of STG. He said that TMC Services is one of the company’s usual subcontractors for environmental cleanup work.
Champaign explosion injures 2
By TIM MITCHELL THE NEWS-GAZETTE
CHAMPAIGN – Investigators are theorizing that magnesium dust may have played a role in the explosion that injured two people in Interstate Research Park on Wednesday afternoon. The explosion occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. at the Wayne H. Choe Technology Center, 1401 Interstate Drive. Two construction workers doing cleanup work there were taken by ambulance to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment. Their identities were not disclosed. Champaign Fire Department spokeswoman Dena Schumacher said Cerion Technologies, a former occupant of the building, had made compact discs and had left what investigators believe was magnesium dust in dust collectors. When the two workers used an acetylene torch to cut some pipes Wednesday, it caused a small fire, she said. “But when the workers used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, it atomized what we believe to be magnesium dust and set off a dust explosion,” Schumacher said. Schumacher said a structural engineer has determined that the rear third of the building will need to be demolished as a result of the explosion. Emergency personnel were called to the building at 3:26 p.m. following a report of an explosion. Seven fire department trucks and six to eight police units responded. When the first firefighters arrived, they found a fire, extensive damage to the rear of the building and two injured people. White smoke was showing toward the back of the building. “The south wall is history, and a portion of the roof was raised a few inches,” Schumacher said. Gas and electricity were shut off to the area as a precaution, Schumacher said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within two minutes. No evacuations were necessary because firefighters judged the neighborhood to be safe, she said. “We had police here immediately in case we needed to evacuate neighborhoods, but we did not need to do that,” she said. The building, owned by Wayne H. Choe, is occupied by two businesses, Servicemaster of Champaign-Urbana and the Institute of Advanced Technology. According to Schumacher, the rear of the building, where the explosion occurred, was unoccupied. Choe had hired two people from Huls Construction Co. to clean out the 5,000-square-foot vacant area on the south side of the building and work on interior finish, flooring and walls in preparation for a new occupant. “They were just about finished with their work, and today was to be their last day of work in there,” Schumacher said.Jim Crisman, co-owner of Servicemaster of Champaign-Urbana, said he was working at his desk at the time of the explosion. “It sounded like something heavy was dropped on top of the building,” Crisman said. “It was pretty startling and scary; probably the loudest thing that you would hear in any given day. I knew right away that something wasn’t normal.” Crisman ran around the east side of the building to see what happened, while the other co-owner, Dwayne Roberts, ran around the west side. “I saw a couple of guys staggering out,” Crisman said. “They weren’t very coherent; they were on their feet but staggering and burned pretty bad. One guy had a shoulder that was injured pretty badly. We got them to the front of the building and had them sit down until the ambulance showed up.” Crisman said none of his 10 employees inside the building was injured. Servicemaster reopened for business this morning. “There wasn’t any structural damage in our part of the building,” Crisman said Wednesday. “I can’t imagine that they won’t let us back in there Thursday.” This morning, Choe said the Institute of Advanced Technology had reopened for regular operations. Schumacher said it was fortunate that only two people were injured. Crisman said it was ironic that his firm is a professional service company that specializes in fire and water damage restoration. “After everybody sorts things out, we may have some service to provide in our own building,” he said.
More smoke than fire in tank
Thursday, July 10, 2003 By KAY RUDDEROW Staff Writer
BRIDGETON — A fire caused by workers using a torch to dismantle an empty fuel tank at Woodruff Energy on Water Street created a lot of smoke, but little danger or damage Wednesday. According to Bridgeton Fire Chief Dave Schoch, a call went out at 11:51 a.m. and the fire department responded to the scene of the fire, about three blocks from the station, within minutes. The Hopewell-Stow Creek Fire Company also responded with an engine and some manpower, Schoch said. “They respond as part of our automatic mutual aid system.”. The workers were dismantling one of the tanks at the rear of the property and there was no fuel involved, according to Woodruff Energy spokesman Bob Woodruff. “We have to do this every five years or so, to clean the tanks and have them inspected,” Woodruff said. Inside the tanks is a type of floating roof over the fuel that would be contained in the tanks, which is edged in rubber against the sides of the tank, he said. The sparks from the workers’ torch set the rubber gasket on fire, causing a lot of black smoke, but little flame, he said. “Dave Schoch and his men deserve a big hand. They were here in a couple of minutes and did a great job,” Woodruff said. “Fortunately, the fire was minor.” The fire company and Bridgeton Emergency Ambulance Association were on the scene for a little more than an hour.
UPDATE State Opens New Motiva Investigation
WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware environmental officials are launching a probe of a sulfuric acid spill two months ago at the Motiva Enterprises Refinery in Delaware City, Del. State officials say the company’s explanation for the spill is overdue. The announcement came one day after Motiva pleaded no contest to criminally negligent homicide and other charges in a deadly acid tank explosion in 2001. The company was immediately fined $296,000 at a hearing Wednesday in Wilmington. A manager with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said the latest accident raises safety and pollution concerns. Motiva had estimated its internal investigation would be done by June 20, but has since told the state it will take longer. A Motiva spokesman said refinery officials have shared their findings so far with state officials but the company is waiting for test results. Maintenance contractor Jeffrey Davis of Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, was killed in the tank collapse in July 2001. Six other workers were hurt. Last month, prosecutors filed a charge of criminally negligent homicide and six counts of assault. Motiva executive John Boles apologized Wednesday and said words were inadequate to express the company’s regret. Prosecutors said the case was unprecedented, because criminal charges usually are not brought against corporations in Delaware. Motiva has also been the subject of a federal grand jury investigation and a negligence lawsuit brought by environmental regulators.
UPDATE Fuel Tank Fire Has Lesser Environmental Impact Than Expected
July 10 (BCN)
Monterey County officials today report that the damage to the environment is not as great as expected after Tuesday afternoon’s fire at the Duke Energy Power Plant in Moss Landing sent plumes of black smoke into the air, resulting in health alerts and a shelter in place order. The shelter in place order was lifted Wednesday morning, but the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments were still advised to remain indoors due to the carbons that are found in heavy smoke. County officials say the smoke went up to a high altitude and moved east into the Salinas Valley, with the help of mild winds, but the smoke combined with Monterey County’s usual fog temporarily generated smog conditions on Wednesday that the region was not used to. The smog dissipated quickly, according to the county health department, and the particulate count decreased by Wednesday evening. Regardless, certain at-risk individuals are advised to still take precautions. Duke Energy officials say the fire ignited during the demolition of an unused oil storage tank at the Moss Landing plant. The 6 million gallon tank still contained 1.2 million gallons of crude oil, which caught fire. Five nearby propane tanks exploded Tuesday evening as a result of the flames and the fire continued to burn into Wednesday, but the fire was completely extinguished not long after dawn. According to Duke Energy, the tank was one of two remaining of 19 originally at the plant, which has been converted to cleaner burning natural gas. The demolition of the tank was part of a modernization project, which includes substantial upgrades and an expansion at the plant, Duke Energy officials say. No one was injured during the blaze and all plant employees have been accounted for. Today, the plant continues to operate normally. The 2,538-megawatt, natural gas-fired Moss Landing plant is the largest power plant in California.
UPDATE Houston-based Motiva pleads no contest to charges
Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. — A company pleaded no contest today to criminal charges in a deadly oil refinery explosion and was fined $296,000. Motiva Enterprises’ chief executive officer, John Boles, expressed regret for the death of Jeffery C. Davis and the injuries suffered by six workers two years ago at Motiva’s oil refinery. “We are truly sorry and we profoundly apologize for what has happened,” Boles said. “There is nothing we can do to bring Mr. Davis back, nor can we ease the suffering of the injured and their families.” Houston-based Motiva was charged with criminally negligent homicide and six counts of misdemeanor assault in the explosion and collapse of a sulfuric acid tank on July 17, 2001 at its Delaware City oil refinery. Investigators documented years of safety and maintenance lapses that preceded the accident. Prosecutors alleged that Motiva caused the death of Davis, a 50-year-old boilermaker who was on a catwalk above the acid tank, “as a result of the use of an ignition source in an unsafe environmt.” The explosion, which investigators said was ignited by a welding spark, spilled more than 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid. Davis’ body was never found. Judge Peggy Ableman ordered Motiva to pay the maximum fine on each charge: $11,500 for criminally negligent homicide and $5,750 for each assault charge. She then exercised her power to impose additional “compensating” fines that will be paid to a crime victims’ fund. Ableman ordered an additional payment of $100,000 for the homicide charge and $25,000 for each of the assault charges. Davis’ widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit scheduled to go to trial in federal court in Philadelphia on Sept. 22. Besides the state criminal charges, Motiva has been the subject of a federal grand jury investigation. Federal and state environmental officials also have filed a civil suit accusing the company of gross negligence leading up to the tank explosion. In a report released last year, investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said the tank that exploded and others like it had a history of corrosion and leaks, but Motiva managers consistently ignored or delayed needed maintenance.
Welder sparks fire at Camp Williams
CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah (AP) – A spark from a contractor’s welding ignited a wildfire that blackened more than 500 acres of grassy, open land Tuesday at the Camp Williams National Guard facility. The fire was about 70 percent contained as of 4 p.m., said Salt Lake County fire Captain Jay Ziolkowski. The nearby communities of Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs faced a low threat, but there were no evacuations. The fire was contained to the guard camp, located about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City. More than 100 fire personnel, an air tanker and two helicopters fought the blaze. The fire moved quickly under high winds and low humidity even though the welder had two people monitoring for fire safety, Ziolkowski said.
UPDATE Town to bill company for fire gear destroyed
By Norman Miller / News Staff Writer Wednesday, July 9, 2003
FRAMINGHAM — The town will bill a Waverley Street firm for fire equipment destroyed following a liquid asphalt tank explosion, apparently sparked by a welder working without a permit. Liquid asphalt that boiled over the top of the 28-foot-tall, 15,000-gallon tank at the Triram Corp. destroyed 2,000 feet of fire hose, according to Darcy Hawes, the civilian administrator for the local department. Also, turnout gear such as boots, jackets and pants were damaged by the hot and sticky material. “It’s definitely in the thousands, but I can’t even come close to an estimate,” said Hawes. “Quite a bit of hose was rendered useless. I will be seeking monetary damages.” Most of the damage occurred when water stopped flowing from a hydrant momentarily. The stoppage was short, but long enough for the liquid asphalt to bubble over the lid of the tank and the building, sending a river of the black material down the driveway and onto the hoses. Although technically Fire Chief Michael Smith could fine the company or welder Christopher Lyon of Brooklyn, Conn., for welding on the tank without a permit, he said Monday he probably would not fine either of them. A welding permit fine can range from $100 to $1,000, Hawes said. Smith said Monday that whenever welding is done on a structure that contains hazardous material, a state permit must be procured through the local fire department. Lyon was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with severe injuries after he was flung from the tank at 721 Waverley St., officials said. A hospital spokeswoman said yesterday that Lyon remains in critical condition. The explosion occurred on Thursday at about 1 p.m. when Lyon and one of his employees were welding on top of the tank. Company manager Jim Porcello said the two welders have worked at the plant for the last eight or nine weeks, but he was unsure what kind of work they were doing. “I still don’t know what he was doing,” said Porcello, who said his superiors hired Lyon and were in charge of what he was doing. On Thursday, Porcello said he believed they were working on new pipes. Smith said on Monday it looked like they were welding a ladder or other equipment to the tank. The plant remained closed yesterday as state, federal and local inspectors looked over all of the company’s equipment, particularly at the explosion site. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were at the scene Thursday but a spokesman said it was department policy not to comment. “It’s hard to say when we’ll open again. There’s still a lot of inspectors who have to come in,” said Porcello. “I’m not sure how much everything will cost. It happened before the holiday, and I think we’re just starting to get some estimates of what we have to do. We’re still just cleaning.” Triram provides liquid asphalt to companies throughout New England. Because of the accident, the company cannot make its deliveries or allow pickups until inspectors give the OK, Porcello said. “It will affect road work in some way,” he said. “I feel bad because customers want to come in to get product, but we can’t even ship what we do have.”
Moss Landing Fire Under Investigation
MOSS LANDING, Calif. — A diesel tank with more than 1 million gallons of a mixture of fuel and water burned through the night in Moss Landing and will soon by under control. Fire crews used foam to gain the upper hand early Wednesday morning. Firefighters say there is still the potential for the fire to flare up again. Fire crews continued to spray water on the outside of the tank to keep it cool Wednesday morning. This was one of more than a dozen tanks that contractors working for Duke Energy were dismantling. Many of the tanks have been dismantled over the past five years without incident. Besides the huge fire inside the tank, five propane tanks blew up but amazingly, no one was injured. The fire broke out at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when, for unknown reasons, a fire ignited 1.2 million gallons of oil in a 6 million gallon storage tank behind the energy center along coastal Highway 1. Workers had permission to dismantle the fuel tank by fire officials, however, the permission was granted on the assumption the tank was empty. However, the tank had a combination of water and No. 6 diesel fuel inside. While a shelter in place was ordered, no one was evacuated, but the fire resulted in huge clouds of heavy black smoke spilling into the air. Health officials said air quality was nearly normal again Wednesday.
Shrimping boat catches fire, no injuries
Updated: 7/4/2003 5:17:57 PM By: Erik Runge
This shrimping boat caught on fire Friday morning. A shrimp boat docked near the Kemah Boardwalk drew more of a crowd than the fourth of July parade. The boat caught fire just after 9 a.m. Friday. No one was hurt, but it was the shrimping company’s only boat. Firefighters worked fast to save what they could of the D.L. Bryan. It was Dai Huynh’s only shrimp boat. Dai has been fishing the waters in this boat for the past seven years. He was doing some welding in the hull when sparks flew and caught the boat’s front half on fire. Emergency crews were nearby, so they were able to save most of the boat. “It’s under control — it was under control in about 15 minutes,” said Seabrook volunteer Fire Chief Ray Cook. Still, it will take some time for Dai to get the D.L. Bryan back out on the water. He didn’t have insurance, but he and some fellow shrimpers plan to do the repairs themselves with hopes of shrimping from the boat in about a month. The owner of the shrimping company says he’ll rent a fishing boat until he can get his repaired.
Air conditioning work sparks fire at school
BY ROBERT BLASZKIEWICZ Times Porter County Editor
PORTAGE — A welding torch being used to install air conditioning at Jones Elementary School is believed to have sparked a small ceiling fire Thursday afternoon, sending smoke through the building before the blaze was quickly put out. The fire burned through insulation and ceiling tiles and was hot enough that it damaged the rubber membrane roof in the one-story section of the school, said Dean Shatz, Portage Township Schools director of auxiliary services. Fire Chief Tim Sosby said the fire was contained to Room 8, a computer lab, but a neighboring classroom and nearby hallways sustained smoke damage. No summer school classes were in session at the school and no injuries were reported. Sosby said it would be difficult to estimate the amount of damage until school officials could assess the contents of the room. The computer lab contained 28 to 30 new Dell computers, still in their boxes, which appeared to be undamaged. A lone multimedia projector remained anchored in the ceiling, surrounded by the framework of the drop ceiling with the damaged tiles torn out. Shatz said it appeared the school would have an extensive cleanup ahead, similar to the cleanup that took place two months ago at Portage High School West after vandals released fire extinguishers throughout the school. Portage school Superintendent George McKay remarked that maintenance crews recently spent three days cleaning Jones, work that now would have to be repeated. Firefighters were called to Jones at 1:14 p.m., after maintenance crews heard yelling that there was a fire. Workers with the air conditioning contractor, O.J. Shoemaker Inc. of South Bend, were doing welding in Room 8 when the fire broke out. Firefighters were on the scene in five minutes and had the fire struck at 1:32 p.m. Sosby said the department’s initial findings indicated the fire was caused by sparks from a welding torch, but that a full investigation into the cause would be done. A representative of O.J. Shoemaker at the scene directed questions to school and fire officials. The installation of air conditioning at Jones is part of a $15 million bond issue in the township to revamp heating systems and air condition schools that have gone without. McKay said that before the fire, air conditioning work at Jones was expected to be done by August. South Haven and Burns Harbor fire departments assisted Portage, while Ogden Dunes, Union Township and Porter departments were on stand-by. An engine from Portage Station No. 1 was delayed from arriving at the scene by a freight train that slowed and eventually stopped, blocking the CSX tracks on McCool Road, just south of the school. Sosby said the blocked crossing could have been a big problem if the fire had been larger. A dispatcher ended up calling the railroad to get the train moved. Sosby said the increased train traffic in the city does pose a concern for emergency responders and that they try to avoid railroad tracks whenever they can.
Fire Destroys Stonington Plant, Damages Homes; Investigators Focus On Renovation Work
STONINGTON, Conn. — Investigators may have a lead into what caused a massive fire that struck the former Monsanto plant in Stonington. Thursday’s fire destroyed the five-acre harborfront mill site, which was undergoing a $30 million renovation into a luxury residential and commercial complex. Crews said demolition workers were using torches inside the building to cut down old pipes hours before the fire. Investigators have not yet ruled on any official cause. It took firefighters from several communities at least three hours to bring flames under control. No one was hurt, but several homes were damaged by intense heat and smoke. The long-vacant mill employed thousands of borough residents for more than 150 years, first as a firearms factory and more recently as a plastics manufacturer.
Explosion rips town
A Connecticut man was seriously burned Thursday when his welding torch sparked the explosion of a giant tank of liquid asphalt at a Waverley Street company, officials said. The explosion hurled Christopher Lyon nearly 30 feet to the ground at Triram at 721 Waverley St. Lyon, of Brooklyn, Conn., was taken by rescue helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was listed in critical condition, authorities said. A second worker, whose name was not released, was also injured, although less seriously. He was taken by ambulance to MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. His condition Thursday night was not immediately available. A Framingham firefighter, whose name was unavailable, was treated at the medical center for heat exhaustion, Fire Chief Michael Smith said. The 1 p.m. explosion shook homes and businesses in the area, frightening neighbors of the large asphalt plant that has been in operation for 45 years. Firefighters rushed to the factory near Cedar Street and Waverley Court and called for help from the Ashland and Hopkinton departments. More than 20 firefighters used a chemical foam to fight the blaze for more than an hour before it was under control.
Kentwood plant evacuated
(Kentwood, July 3, 2003, 7:50 a.m.) Hazmat crews were busy overnight at a Kentwood Plant after a welding torch ignited nearby chemicals. The incident happened around 12:30 Thursday morning, at Lacks Industries in Kentwood. Fire officials say a worker was welding when some sparks ignited nearby bags of chemicals, creating a cloud of sulfuric acid. Since there was no wind, the cloud hung in the area for about 45 minutes. As a precaution, the plant was evacuated and traffic was shutdown on 44th Street between Broadmoor and Schafer for nearly two hours. No one was injured in the accident.
Fire destroys welding shed at lumber company
rmbcst
BUFFALO, Wyo. (AP) – A fire Wednesday destroyed a welding shop at the Buckingham Lumber Co., authorities said. No one was injured and the main lumber and hardware store was not damaged. ”It could have been a lot worse. Fortunately no one was hurt. That’s the most important thing,” said owner John Buckingham. The fire broke out at about 8:45 a.m. while an employee was working on a hammer mill near the shop, Buckingham said. A spark from the cutting torch ignited diesel fuel in a nearby basin used to clean parts, he said. The hammer mill is used to grind waste-wood materials at the Buckingham sawmill. The employee tried to extinguish the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but the fire quickly spread to the adjacent shop building. Destroyed were shop tools, air compressors, welding equipment and an old fiberglass boat, Buckingham said. The fire also ignited barrels of oil and oil products, as well as waste-wood products. ”Let’s just call it a $40,000 weenie roast,” Buckingham said.
Fire at mall
No evacuations were needed late Friday morning when a welder accidentally ignited a grease fire in an exhaust duct in a mechanical area that is off-limits to the public but situated near the food court at the West Ridge Mall, a Topeka Fire Department official said. A mall security guard felt shortness of breath after trying to put out the blaze from the building’s roof and was taken to a Topeka hospital to be checked out, said Battalion Chief Edward Gerhardt, of the Topeka Fire Department. Gerhardt said the blaze did an estimated $500 damage inside the mall at 1801 S.W. Wanamaker Road. Firefighters were called at 11:33 a.m., said Fire Department Shift Commander John Lord. Gerhardt said the fire was ignited in a mechanical area just below the roof in an exhaust duct that leads outdoors from a grill at a former Burger King site in the food court. That mechanical area is off-limits to the public. A worker was welding a new section of duct work to the existing section when grease inside the older section ignited ccidentally, according to Gerhardt. He said firefighters were able to put out the blaze easily.
Fast Moving Fire Threatens Benicia Refinery
There were some tense moments in the Solano County community of Benicia Wednesday afternoon as a grass fire burned perilously close to the Valero Refinery. The blaze started in an area used to store containers of heavy crude oil used in the manufacturing of asphalt. Exact cause of the fire is unknown, but one observer said it appeared to begin near where a refinery crew was working with a welding torch. ire crews used foam to suppress the blaze, while refinery workers hurredly moved undamaged containers with forklifts. In addition to threatening the refinery, the fire set a nearby field ablaze. The resulting grass fire burned close to a housing subdivision and at one point neared Interstate-680. A shelter-in-place alert was issued for Benicia residents because of fear that smoke from the fire might be toxic. The blaze sent up a plume of black smoke visible throughout the Bay Area.
Construction causes fire at Fremont Heinz plant
FREMONT — Construction work on steel beams at the Heinz USA plant sparked a fire that caused $25,000 in damage. Fremont firefighters respon|ded to the fire off Ohio Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Heat from the beam work apparently set fire to wood near the ceiling of a building in which vinegar and other items were stored at the west end of the plant. Fire damage was limited to the ceiling area and electrical wiring. The building had a sprinkler system that was activated, but the fire started above the sprinklers, firefighters said. Nobody was injured in the fire.
Man burned in fire
Kevin O’Connor 06/21/2003
PAWTUCKET – A faulty soldering torch is blamed for a fire that burned one man and chased two families from their home. Kevin Cahoon told firefighters that he was soldering pipes, using a torch fed by a propane tank, when fire flashed all around him Friday at 3:20 p.m. in the basement of his home at 265 Norfolk Ave., firefighters report. “He said he saw two flashes, both at face level,” said Fire Lt. Timothy McLaughlin, who lead the investigation into the fire. “He got out of the basement and called for help.” Firefighters with Engine 4 arrived at the home 4 minutes after receiving the first call for help. Fire Capt. Thomas Feeley and Firefighters Steven Sherry and Paul Dooley had the fire under control within minutes, Battalion Chief Ronald Doire said. “They got into the basement and knocked it down quickly,” Doire said. “There was significant damage to the basement, but it did not spread to the rest of the home.” Kevin Cahoon was escorted from the home and then taken to Rhode Island Hospital with burns to his face, hands and back. He was said to have sustained first and second degree burns. Burns are described as second degree when there is some blistering and damage to deeper layers of the skin. A first degree burn causes redness. A sunburn is a first degree burn. The building owners, James and Helga Fagan, and Kevin and Christina Cahoon were all out of their homes when firefighters arrived. Kevin Cahoon was the only person injured in the fire. Damage was limited to the area in the front of the basement where the fire started, Doire said. There was smoke damage to the rest of the building, but firefighters searched with their hands and with thermal imaging devices and concluded the flames did not have time to sneak into the walls of the first floor. Work crews were called in from Narragansett Electric and Valley Gas to shut down the utilities to the home until the connections to the home could be tested for safety. There was substantial damage to the electrical system in the basement, Doire said. Building residents were trying to determine where they would spend the night as firefighters collected their gear and folded their hoses less than an hour after they arrived. The home would be habitable as soon as the electrical and gas systems are made safe, firefighters reported.
Fire Breaks Out in Defense Ministry
A fire broke out on the rooftop of the Defense Ministry building in central Seoul Saturday afternoon, but no casualties were reported. The blaze, which began at around 5:37 p.m., was put out completely in 10 minutes, police said. An initial investigation showed the fire started when sparks from a welding job spread to an air-conditioning cooling tower. Workers were removing a communication tower from the rooftop at the time. The ministry and firefighters were looking into the cause of the blaze. The fire touched off a terror scare as witnesses flooded media organizations with calls.
East Mall fire bill tipped to exceed $10,000
Friday, 20 June 2003
THE DAMAGE bill could be up to $20,000 following a fire in two adjacent residential units in the East Mall on Wednesday afternoon. The fire, on the first floor above the Uphill and Schaefer Real Estate office, started in the roof of one of the units. Three builders who had been working on a renovation of the units were treated by ambulance officers for smoke inhalation after they had attempted to put the fire out. Police said that, during some welding operations, the sparking had ignited and ceiling wood work had also caught fire. Armidale Fire Brigade station officer, Mick Howard, said firemen wearing breathing apparatus used a pressure fan to ventilate the roof void. The fire was extinguished and salvage work carried out. “The roof was severely damaged in one unit and the remainder of the upper levels were damaged by heat, smoke and water,” Officer Howard said. “Water went through the floor of one of the units, so there was also minor water damage in the Uphill and Schaefer office below. Officer Howard estimated that damage would run between $10,000 and $20,000.
P&G sustains minor damage in fire
By RACHAEL MYER 06/19 2003
No one was injured at a “relatively small” fire at Procter & Gamble Wednesday morning that appears to have been started accidentally. Preliminary findings indicate the fire on the south end of the property off the U.S. 70 Bypass was started by a welding or cutting torch, said Don Friddle, Jackson Fire Department fire marshal. The investigation will probably take a couple of days, he said. The fire began in an outside area between two warehouse buildings that had been hit during the May 4 tornadoes, he said. “There was no product involved and it didn’t get into our main production area,” said Randy Kennedy, public affairs manager at Procter & Gamble. The Pringles and Torengos chips that were kept nearby had already been taken to the landfill because of tornado damage, he said. The company has said that the May 4 storms caused “millions” of dollars of damage to the 170-acre plant, which opened in the 1970s. The fire didn’t cause any permanent damage to the building, and one wall was already scheduled to be taken down after the tornado, Kennedy said. He said the fire appears to have started by spontaneous combustion. Jackson fire officers and P&G’s fire brigade put out the blaze at about 8:45 a.m., Friddle said. The fire began about 7:15 a.m. A lot of black smoke poured out from the fire. “It looked worse than it actually was,” Friddle said.
Workers’ tools spark blaze in SJU dormitory basement
By Tien-Shun Lee 06/12/2003
An electrical worker was burned when a flash fire broke out last Thursday in the basement of one of the St. John’s University dormitories. A flash fire broke out in the basement of a St. John’s University dormitory around 2 p.m. last Thursday, causing burns to the face and chest of a worker who was installing equipment to improve cell-phone reception in the building. About 60 firemen responded to the call, and the fire in a storage utility room of Hollis Hall was under control within 10 minutes, said Sean Johnson, a spokesman for the Fire Department. “Aside from the worker being injured, it was a fairly minor incident,” said Jody Fisher, a spokesman for the university. The injured worker was taken to Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, where he was in stable condition on Tuesday. He was one of two employees of the Highland Construction Co. in Rockland County who were installing the equipment at the university’s dormitory. The second worker was not injured. According to Fisher, the two workers were installing the electrical equipment side by side, using handheld tools that emitted sparks. Sparks from the tool of one of the workers fell into a bucket filled with a type of glue substance as he was mounting the equipment on the wall. The glue ignited in a flash, burning the worker in the face and chest. Fisher said he did not know what the glue substance was. Calls to the Highland Construction Co. were not returned. At the time of the fire, the dormitory was closed to students for the summer and occupied only by a person at the front desk and one or two other employees, Fisher said. The few employees were evacuated from the building when the Fire Department responded. “The fire was very far away from the employees, in a basement room made out of cinder-block construction,” Fisher said. “And there’s fire-proofing material throughout the entire building.” Fisher said he was glad that the injured worker’s condition had improved. The cell-phone antenna work would be finished at a later date, he said.
Fire leaves Norwalk man severely burned
NORWALK – Ramiro Rodriguez, 29, who was severely burned in a Norwalk house fire on Saturday, is still in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital’s burn unit. Rodriguez was installing a new roof in Norwalk when a propane torch ignited the fire. He has burns on more than 80 percent of his body. Sergio Rodriguez, Ramiro’s brother, finds it hard to cope with what happened. He was also on the roof Saturday and suffered minor burns to his forehead and right arm. Sergio says he did not see the fire when it started but looked across the roof when he heard his brother screaming. He says he desperately tried to get to his brother who was being engulfed in flames. He said the fire’s intense heat forced him away. A co-worker, Antonia Sandow, was also injured in the fire and was treated at Norwalk Hospital for minor burns.
Fire Damages Hinsdale Church
Sunday, June 15, 2003, 10:37 a.m.By Bob Roberts WBBM Newsradio 780
(Hinsdale) — Fire caused minor damage to a church in west suburban Hinsdale. But the senior minister of the Union Church, Verlee Copeland, says “we have a lot to be thankful for,” and says services will go forward as scheduled on Sunday at the church at 137 S. Garfield Ave. Copeland says firefighters blame the fire on a welding accident. Construction is going forward on an addition to the church complex near the spot where the fire began. Copeland says the church organ was located beneath the section of roof that caught fire. She says it “was a bit out of tune” but playable after firefighters finished putting out the fire, and that giant fans were being used to draw the smoke out of the sanctuary. But she says it should not prevent services from taking place, and says when the average person walked through the sanctuary it’s impossible to tell where the fire occurred. Nonetheless, Copeland says the organ will be checked in the coming week to make sure there is no serious damage. Firefighters from eight suburs battled the fire, breaking through the roof to put it out. One firefighter required treatment for heat exhaustion, but was not hospitalized.
Welder sparks small fire at A.C. condos
From Press staff reports
ATLANTIC CITY – A contractor sparked a minor fire on the sixth floor of a high-rise building Wednesday while working with a welding torch, fire officials said. Firefighters responded to the Ritz condominium building at 2715 Boardwalk at 3:10 p.m., authorities said. The sixth floor had filled with smoke after the contractor, who was cutting a steel beam while doing remodeling work, sparked the fire when the welding torch ignited debris in the wall, Battalion Chief Charles Ritzel said. Firefighters controlled the flames quickly by using a small hose the contractor had on hand as part of the fire code safety requirements necessary for welding work, the chief said. Firefighters were at the scene for about 50 minutes and damage to the building was minimal.
Owensboro museum catches fire
Reporter: Casey Stegall
Owensboro, KY June 7 — Firefighters say a roofing company is responsible for a fire at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. Bruce’s Tri-State Roofing crew members were using a torch while working on the roof when the fire started around 1:30 Friday afternoon. It quickly consumed the roof of the house connected to the museum. The fire was primarily contained to the attic and roof of the Smith House, which connects to the museum. It took four engine companies and about 30 firefighters to finally get the situation under control. The good news is nobody was hurt, and most of the artifacts were saved.
Spark ignites gasoline in soil near mall; I-40/75 widening work stops; worker burned by eruption
By DON JACOBS, June 11, 2003
Utility work across from West Town Mall in preparation for widening Interstate 40/75 was halted Tuesday after underground gasoline ignited and burned a worker. Flames shot up a 30-feet deep hole about 8 a.m., burning an employee of a Minnesota drilling company. The worker, Matt Alm, was treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and released. The flames were the result of sparks from a steel drill bit that struck rock in the hole that is 6 feet in diameter. “They have ceased that work until they find out what’s causing the contamination,” said Chris Jenkins, safety coordinator with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Jenkins said Tri-State Drilling Inc., was drilling the first of four shafts for steel utility poles at the intersection of Kingston Pike and Buckingham Road when the flames erupted. Kingston Pike near the mall is slated for widening as part of the widening project on I-40/75, Jenkins said. Jenkins was unsure Tuesday how the utility work stoppage would affect the overall widening project. Steve Wilson, manager of the underground storage tank program for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said the work has been halted until “a contractor can analyze the soil to make sure there are no environmental issues.” Soil contaminated with gasoline dug up by the drill was being hauled away Tuesday evening, Wilson said. Flammability readings at the top of the hole after the fire showed the continued presence of gasoline, Wilson said. Because gasoline fumes are heavier than air, Wilson said the flammability reading at the bottom of the 30-feet hole probably would be higher. Wilson said an Exxon gas station used to occupy a corner of the intersection, about 80-feet from where the hole was drilled. The underground gasoline tanks for that station were removed in 1999 and there were no environmental concerns after the removal, he said. But Wilson said the gasoline pocket struck Tuesday would be uphill from where the Exxon gas tanks were in the ground. “At this point, there is a question of where the contamination came from,” Wilson said. Workers covered the hole with plywood and cordoned off the area with plastic, yellow tape until work can resume.
Man injured in laundry-room fire
Sunday, June 8, 2003
ENGLEWOOD – A laundry room fire Saturday sent a plumber to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, police said. The plumber, whose name was unavailable, was taken to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, said fire Capt. John McLoughlin. The blaze at the office complex at 15 Engle St. was ignited by a spark thrown off by a plumber welding pipes at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, McLoughlin said. The blaze was reported at 8:28 a.m. and was called under control about 45 minutes later, McLoughlin said. Englewood was assisted by Tenafly, Fort Lee, and Teaneck firefighters. Although the fire was contained to the laundry room, the office complex was evacuated before firefighters arrived. McLoughlin said the fire caused smoke damage throughout the second and third floors of the building.
UPDATE Woman Claims Negligence In Husband’s Death
By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor
The widow of a man who died from injuries suffered in a November natural gas explosion is seeking compensation for her losses. Valley Fresh Foods Inc. and Kralis of Mentone Inc., doing business as Kralis Brothers Foods Inc., are named as defendants in the lawsuit filed recently in Kosciusko Circuit Court. Mary Grimm, individually and as administratrix of the estate of Richard J. Grimm, is the plaintiff. The case was filed on Mary Grimm’s behalf by attorney Kandi Kilkelly Hidde of Bingham McHalle LLP, Indianapolis. Richard J. Grimm, 38, suffered burns, broken ribs, punctured lungs, a concussion and a skull fracture when he was blown off a ladder by the Nov. 2 explosion at the Kralis Brothers plant owned by Valley Fresh Foods on South Tinkey Road at Mentone. He died Nov. 13 as a result of those injuries. On the day of the explosion, Grimm was working 10 to 15 feet up a ladder in the chicken processing plant, using a welding torch to cut old roof rafters. In the area where Grimm was cutting, the torch ignited naral gas that was being released from a rusted pipe. The lawsuit claims wrongful death and indicates both Valley Fresh and Kralis Brothers were negligent and breached their duties by not providing a safe work area and/or failed to warn Grimm of the dangers in the work area and failed to properly inspect, maintain and/or repair natural gas pipes in the plant. Grimm was employed by Craig Welding & Manufacturing Inc., which was hired to perform repairs and welding work at the site. At the time of the explosion, fire officials investigating the incident said the natural gas was pocketed in a false ceiling in the area where Grimm was working to cut out the final rafter. A specific dollar amount for compensation in the case was not noted. Losses include medical, funeral and burial expenses, loss of earnings and loss of companionship. A trial by jury is requested.
Fire destroys sawmill
by Tammy Helm
The Dan J. Nisley & Sons Sawmill was burned to the ground early Tuesday, June 3. According to Corydon Fire Chief John Johnson, Randy Sharp saw the fire and went to the Nisley home to tell Nisley his mill was on fire. It was totally engulfed at that time. “It was already on the ground when we got there,” said Johnson. Corydon firemen received the page at 5:23 a.m. and remained on the scene until 7:36 a.m. They only used a couple loads of water. A tanker from the Humeston Fire Department was called to assist. The fire marshall arrived between 9:30 and 10 a.m. to inspect the scene. “It was so far gone, he couldn’t say what caused it,” said Johnson. Johnson said he was told that the mill workers had been using a welder the previous day and had a small fire then, but thought they had it out. They worked three or four hours after that incident. Located in northern Wayne County, the Amish owned and operated mill produced wooden pallets. The business was not insured. By 3:30 p.m., clean up efforts were well underway. At least 24 men from the Amish community and neighbors with heavy equipment were helping in the cleanup.
Fire Delays Ceremony
By Marcus Blair TIMES RECORD
SALLISAW — A dedication ceremony was supposed to be held Tuesday for the new Arby’s in Sallisaw, but corporate managers arrived to find the restaurant a dripping, blackened mess. The building sustained heavy smoke and water damage after a fire ignited in a wall and the attic. It will be closed until repairs can be made, District Manager Chris Griffin said. Arby’s was open only nine days before the fire, Griffin said. The company does not yet know how long it will take to rebuild. Thick black smoke already was pouring through the restaurant when Sallisaw firefighters arrived shortly before 7 a.m. They had to use chain saws to rip through the walls and roof to reach the blaze, which was located in wood behind the building’s facade, said Mike Tubbs, Sallisaw fire chief. “It was a slow, smoldering fire,” Tubbs said. “There was not much fire damage, but we had to cut into it and spray it down.” The blaze appeared to be caused by an electrical malfunction near a lighted sign under the south entrance, Tubbs said. Tubbs could not estimate the cost of the damage but said it will be significant. He saw two roof beams and other key structural points that were incinerated. It was the second fire to heavily damage Arby’s since construction began. Workers building the roof were using a propane torch to melt sealant when wood beams caught fire and caused about $10,000 damage, Tubbs said. The damage was much less costly than Tuesday’s fire because the restaurant was incomplete.
Fire erupts at ASU West dorm
06/03/2003 By NEWS CHANNEL 3 / azfamily.com staff
A dorm that was under construction at ASU West erupted into fire Monday. Firefighters from the Northwest Valley battled a third-alarm blaze which broke out at an Arizona State University West dorm that was under construction Monday afternoon. About 80 crewmembers fought the fire that reportedly started between the third floor and the attic of the building near 47th Avenue and Thunderbird Road. Four hours after crews quieted the blaze, hot spots and smoke were spotted flaring up from the roof of the structure. An ASU West spokeswoman said she believes a spark from a welding torch may have set off the fire. A Phoenix Fire Department spokesman said crews initially had a hard time getting lines to the structure. Excessive heat and the unstable nature of the building forced fire investigators to switch into defensive mode. Although firefighters were not able to save the dorm building, which was completely destroyed, crews were able to save structures to the north and east of the burned-out building. Those buildings, which make up the Las Casas dormitory are scheduled to open Aug. 15 in time for the return of students. No injuries were reported.
Welding sparks blaze
By Valerie Gritton/The Daily Times Tuesday, June 03, 2003 –
FARMINGTON Fuel leaking from a 500 gallon gas tank was ignited by a welding spark Monday at Aaladin Southwest High Pressure Washers. Employees of the business at 1516 W. Murray Drive were welding a trailer in back of the store when the fire started, said Farmington Fire Marshal Herb Veazey. The fire Monday was one of several structure blazes that has kept San Juan County and Farmington firefighters busy so far this summer. Because the business is in an area on West Murray that remains in the county, the owner did not have to build an underground fuel storage tank, Veazey said. “In Farmington, for many years, we have not allowed above-ground fuel,” Veazey said. “This is in the county and has been for here for many years.” The 500 gallon storage tank was filled Friday with 250 gallons of kerosene and 250 gallons of gasoline. Magnesium was also allegedly ignited by the fire and burned underneath the fuel tank. “Magnesium just literally explodes when you hit it with water,” said Randy Wakeland with the Farmington Fire Department. Fortunately, the tank did not blow up and no one was injured during the blaze that created flames higher than the building and a column of black smoke that could be seen for miles. “It had the potential to blow up. It was a serious situation,” Veazey said. Firefighters used foam to stop the fuel vapors from igniting elsewhere and later washed debris into the street for clean up. Veazey said the Aaladin fire is one of several that have occurred over the past two weeks. On Memorial Day weekend an arson fire destroyed a home and most of its contents at 3144 W. Main St. That fire is still under investigation, Veazey said. Another fire caused by an electrical malfunction destroyed part of a business located in an office complex at 2901 20th St. Part of the roof was destroyed and costs are estimated to exceed $30,000. “We’re expecting a busy fire season, but hoping it won’t be,” Veazey said.
Fire damages Courier-Journal printing plant project
A portion of The Courier-Journal’s $80 million printing plant, which is still under construction, caught fire this morning. No one was injured in the fire, according to Linda Pursell, vice president of market development. Details of damage from the fire are not yet available. Pursell said the fire that was caused when sparks from a grinder ignited insulation in the roof. The grinding was being done by a worker with Lykins Steel, a subcontractor for Louisville-based Messer Construction Co. Fire department units, which arrived just after 9 a.m., were called to extinguish the fire after workers tried to put out the fire with extinguishers but were unable to contain the blaze, she said. Pursell said it is too soon to say whether the fire will affect the timetable for the project. She added that all damages will be covered by insurance. The new printing plant, an $80 million project that includes about $17 million in construction costs, is expected to be in operation by September 2004. The project includes building a multistory facility with more than 500,000 square feet. It will house the newspaper’s new printing presses.
Torch gets blame for fire at Target; Tuesday night blaze damages Fort Gratiot store
By LORI PAIONK Times Herald
FORT GRATIOT — Months of renovation work at the Target store in Birchwood Mall was days away from completion when sparks from a torch touched off a blaze inside the walls Tuesday night. A contractor using an acetylene torch to cut a steel beam at about 10:45 p.m. accidentally ignited insulation within the store’s front wall. No one was injured. The store was closed when the fire began. A cleaning crew was evacuated by the contractors. A store manager on scene declined to comment on when the store would reopen. Birchwood Mall security officer Ryan Roberts said some smoke escaped into the mall, which will be open today. He said he wasn’t sure if, or when, Target would reopen. It was unclear how much Target merchandise was ruined because of fire, smoke or water. Through the front glass doors, witnesses could see white smoke filling the interior. “I don’t know how much smoke made it in, but it wouldn’t take much (to do damage),” said Lt. Jim DeLacy of the St. Clair County Sheriff Department. He said the fire was difficult to extinguish because flames spread easily through wall insulation. Fort Gratiot Fire Chief Ron Nichols was not available for comment at the scene. Firefighters from Fort Gratiot and Burtchville townships remained on the scene after 1 a.m. Ironworker Dave Zimmerman of Kimball Township was using a torch on the outside of the store’s front exterior to cut a beam for a renovation project. A spark must have flown under a fire-proof blanket spread on the wall, he said. “I moved the blanket and knocked out the wall out to check (the smoke) and I couldn’t get back there to put it out,” said Zimmerman, who works for Dietzel Co. of Fraser. Construction supervisor Tom Dea said renovations on the store front began in January and workers were almost finished. “This was it — two more days,” said Dea of Gioffre Companies in Dublin, Ohio.
Telegraph on sale despite fire
By:Press Association
Urgent negotiations were under way to get the Belfast Telegraph printed elsewhere after the blaze at its plant in the city centre put presses out of action for several days. But editor Ed Curran insisted: “We have a lot of confidence we will be able to publish. “Our printing presses have been knocked out, but all our editorial and advertising systems are intact. “We`ve had a lot of support from our colleagues in the newspaper industry and I`m hoping they will be able to publish us today elsewhere outside the Belfast Telegraph offices.“ Negotiations were under way with the Morton weekly newspaper group based in Portadown, Co Armagh and the Bangor Spectator in Co Down. At least 40 firefighters were needed to put out the blaze in the Belfast Telegraph building. The multi-storey press hall suffered severe smoke and water damage in the fire, which started when stacked paper was ignited by a spark from a welder`s torch in nearby maintenance work. Four pumps and three special appliances tackled the flames as they threatened to spread through several floors. The building was evacuated and no one was injured. The Irish editions of the Independent and Daily Telegraph and the Northern Ireland edition of the Sun were due to be printed when the fire broke out last night. Alternative arrangements had to be made to print the papers elsewhere. But Mr Curran said it could have been much worse and praised the Fire Service for preventing the building being destroyed. He added: “All we have got to do is try and find a printing press. Either get one of our own back in action or use printing presses elsewhere.“
Roof work may have started fire that damaged storage units
By Deanna Boyd Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Workers doing roof repair may have sparked a fire Thursday morning at a storage unit warehouse in Burleson, officials said. The fire started about 8:40 a.m. in one of the storage units at the U-Haul Storage Warehouse, 2121 S. Burleson Blvd. The flames spread, damaging three other large units or about a third of the building, said Burleson police Sgt. Cindy Aaron. “There were some workers on the roof repairing some damage from the February ice storm,” Aaron said. “They were welding and the hot metal dripped down into the building. They think that’s what started the fire.” The service road of Interstate 35 was shut down to make room for responding water tanks and after reports were received that some of the storage buildings may have contained nitrous oxide and ammunition, Aaron said. Firefighters from Alvarado, Briaroaks, Crowley, Joshua, Keene, Rendon and the Tarrant County Fire District assisted the Burleson Fire Department in putting out the two-alarm fire. “The Cleburne Fire Department covered our city while our units were tied up out there,” Aaron said. A Briaroaks firefighter was treated at the scene for exhaustion. A worker at the facility had an asthma attack at the scene but did not require hospitalization, she said. The fire was contained about 11 a.m., but crews remained on the scene throughout the day putting out flare-ups. Construction crews were called out to raze the burned units, Aaron said. No damage estimates were available Thursday.
UPDATE BP may face fine in welder’s death
ANCHORAGE (AP) ‹ State safety officials have proposed a $6,300 fine against BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. in the December death of a contract welder. It’s the second such action against the oil company this year. In a notice sent this past week to BP, inspectors with the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health office accused the company of violating the state’s general worker safety law. For now the violation is merely alleged, and BP can contest it, said John Stallone, acting head of the safety office. BP spokesman Daren Beaudo said Friday the company had not yet decided what to do. Rodney ”Rooster” Rost, 55, of Soldotna, was a veteran welder employed by Norcon. On Dec. 21, he was welding a 28-inch pipe when he was hit in the head by a metal plug that flew out the end of the pipe. The plug was a heavy metal disc that had been inserted into the pipe to hold back nitrogen gas put into the pipe to suppress any potential explosion from oil and gas residue inside, Stallone said. A hose was attached to relieve pressure buildup inside the pipe. But ice crystals blocked the hose and high pressure caused the plug to pop out, hitting Rost, Stallone said. ”When it flew out of there, it was lethal,” he said. ”After seeing the photographs, I don’t think he knew what hit him. There was no warning, no nothing, just bang.” The accident happened at Gathering Center 2 in the giant Prudhoe Bay oil field, which BP operates. Stallone said his office found no willful or criminal violations, which would have resulted in a much higher proposed penalty. In this case, $6,300 is the maximum fine allowed for the type of violation alleged, he said. BP and its contractors must correct some safety problems, Stallone said. One change is that workers now must make better use of gauges to warn against excessive pressure buildup, he said. BP was hit with a similar violation and $6,300 fine this year for a North Slope well explosion and fire that critically injured oil field operator Don Shugak of Anchorage last Aug. 16. BP did not contest that violation and paid the fine. Beaudo said BP believes it has made safety changes to prevent a recurrence of either type of mishap. ”The incident was deeply regrettable,” he said of Rost’s death. ”We cooperated fully with the investigation.” In January, BP’s Alaska president, Steve Marshall, told employees that the company’s safety record was poor in 2002 and that it had to improve ”as if our lives and our future in Alaska depend on it. Because they do.”