Date: May 26, 2021
Location: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (USA)
Address: 1120 5th Avenue North, 54495
Type: Potential Dust Fire
Fuel: Paper Dust
Industry: Paper Mill (Pulp and Paper)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Verso
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
The property used to belong to Verso Paper Mill which, according to the company website, is a leading producer of graphic and specialty papers, packaging and pulp. It has owned the paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids, since 2014. In June 2020, Verso announced that it would indefinitely idle this mill and one in Duluth, Minnesota.
Incident Description:
On May 26, 2021, the Daily Jefferson County Union reported a fire at a paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Firefighters responded to reports that a smokestack was on fire and flames were visible on the roof. They arrived at around 8:20 p.m. and worked with mill employees to fight the fire.
According to the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department’s Facebook page, the smokestack collapsed and caused additional fires in and around the digester tower. Fire crews managed to get them all under control by 9:45 p.m. but remained on the scene until 1:00 a.m.
One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. The cause of the fire is under investigation, although the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune stated that the mill appeared to have been struck by lightning that hit a scrubber stack.
Sources:
Daily Jefferson County Union
Facebook
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
