Date: March 3, 2022
Location: Madras, Oregon (USA)
Address: 335 NW Hess Road, 97741
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Wood Processing (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Blower Pipe
Company: Bright Wood Corporation
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Bright Wood Corporation is a lumber processing and millworking business in Madras, Oregon. It was established in 1960 and has a product line that includes window and door components, mouldings and millwork, and wood components cut to size.
Incident Description:
On March 3, 2022, KTVZ reported an equipment fire at a wood processing plant in Madras, Oregon.
Firefighters from Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 responded shortly before 10:00 a.m. After finding a fire in a blower pipe and smouldering bark dust in a hopper outside, they extinguished it and overhauled both areas.
The Fire Chief reported that a hot saw likely ignited bark dust that the spark suppression system failed to put out, resulting in the fire. He said about 20 to 30 workers were notified to evacuate the building, and they were all accounted for.
Crews stayed on scene for an hour to ensure everything was functional and safe. A truck later returned to the yard to ensure that there were no hot embers in the trailer of bark dust.
No injuries were reported.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up 14 OSHA inspections for Bright Wood Corporation, but they were not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
KTVZ
