As the experts begin their investigation into the tragedy, I was curious about whether the Co-Gen facility on site played a role. So, using some aerial images, I pieced together the scene as best I could from the accident image and drone footage. This is just how I do my scene examination when my services are hired for these types of investigations. Just letting you see it through my eyes…
There are/were two (2) silos visible in the pre-accident aerial image. One was at the Co-Gen facility, and the other was well away from it. It was the one farthest away that was involved in the explosion. It was located adjacent to what appears to be a “Dust Collector/Baghouse” that was presumed to handle “wood dusts,” a combustible dust typically rated St2, but could be different based on the size of the particles inside the silo and if there was a “hybrid” mixture within the silo.
My GUESS, based on initial reporting of a “silo fire,” is a Backdraft Event. I have seen this firsthand at a client near my home where a “rotary dryer” was on fire. The FD decided to open the dryer to apply water, and as soon as they opened it, fresh air entered the vessel and an explosion occurred.
In the image above, we can see the silo lying on its side. It has flattened out from its orientation upon its landing, but the key point is that it appears to be fully intact. It appears that it was lifted off its foundation, meaning the flame front would have been at ground level, leading to all the injuries and fatality. Based on this image, I do not think the silo landed on a fire truck, as it is still in relative distance from where it stood. (See image below). We can also see what appears to be materials that would have been at the base of the silo in the image; look to the top middle of the image, and we can see the circular/layered materials.
In the image above, we can see the network of ducting/conveyors that ties the buildings together and ends at the Co-Gen facility. I have no idea what was happening inside each building, but that may be a critical piece of the puzzle for investigators, as the dust profile could be changing from building to building.
