A Jan. 7 fire flash that injured four (4) employees was caused by employees burning isopropyl alcohol, a Illinois State Fire Marshal report on the incident said.
The media previously reported that the incident was caused by a propane heater, which was not the case. The state fire marshal’s report said that three (3) of the injured employees initially fabricated that story.
At 3:52 a.m. on Jan. 7 the Rochelle Fire Department was dispatched to the business for the report of a small explosion, no fire, and two injuries. After arriving on the scene, RFD personnel found that there had been a total of four injuries. One patient suffered minor burns to their hands and opted not to be transported. Those who were transported suffered “serious, but not life-threatening” burn injuries and went to the burn units at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford
The fire flash took place in an enclosure in the business’s parking lot that is used for smoke breaks. The tent did have a propane heater in it for warmth during the winter months, but that was not the cause of the fire flash. The state fire marshal’s report said that employees in the tent would burn pie plates of isopropyl alcohol for an additional heat source. One employee took a gallon jug of isopropyl alcohol and poured it into the pie plate to keep the fire going, which caused the large fire flash.
The state fire marshal’s report said the fire flash was not caused intentionally. Employees told the false propane heater story at first because of fear that they “would be in trouble,” the state fire marshal’s report said.
One employee suffered a broken back from falling over a railing while realizing their clothes were on fire. Another sustained burn injury to their face, right hand, right leg, and torso. The third employee received significant facial burns, burns to both hands, and neck burns.
Source: IL State Fire Marshal and https://rochellenews-leader.com/stories/jan-7-fire-that-injured-4-at-silgan-containers-started-due-to-employees-burning-isopropyl-alcohol,90513