Date: March 18, 2019
Location: Florence, South Carolina (USA)
Address: 2202 Paper Mill Road, 29506
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Paper and Packaging Products (Pulp and Paper)
Equipment: Unknown
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 March 19, 2019, ABC15 News reported a fire at a paper and packaging products company in Florence, South Carolina.
Firefighters spent nearly four hours getting the flames under control. The Windy Hill Fire Chief said that the fire, which may have ignited in the area where the facility dumps its wood chips, smoldered for hours and was difficult to get to.
No injuries were reported, although part of the conveyor belt system was burned. The cause has not yet been determined.
Previous Incidents:
WBTW News 13 reported that the Windy Hill Fire Department had responded to wood chip fires at the WestRock plant in the past, but no press coverage of these incidents could be located.
Sources:
ABC15 News
WBTW News 13
