Date: June 14, 2022
Location: West Point, Virginia (USA)
Address: 2310 King William Avenue, 23181
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Paper Mill (Pulp and Paper)
Equipment: Conveyor Belt
Company: WestRock
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, WestRock is an international paper products manufacturer with over 320 manufacturing facilities, design centers, research labs, and sales offices employing 50,000 people across North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It product line includes containerboard, corrugated containers, folding cartons, partitions and protective packaging.
Incident Description:
On June 18, 2022, the Daily Press reported a fire at a paper mill in West Point, Virginia.
At around 3:00 a.m., the West Point Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call about a fire in the chip plant. Early responders discovered small fires in a 250-foot-long tunnel that houses the conveyor system. The 10 story tunnel was filled with smoke and burning sawdust and chips.
As more units arrived and attacked the fire from two locations, the fire intensified and broke the conveyor belt. The belt was pulled into a machinery room on the lower floor and continued to burn in that room, which intensified the situation.
When a second alarm sounded, more units from New Kent responded, along with Lower King & Queen Volunteer Fire Department, Walkerton Community Fire Association, and King William Fire & EMS. The West Point Police Department controlled traffic while more than 30 firefighters put out the flames.
At 9:45 a.m., the mill was deemed safe and all responders left. Damage estimates were not available. No injuries were reported.
Sources:
Daily Press
