Date: May 11, 2020
Location: Coldstream, British Columbia (CA)
Address: 9900 School Road, V1B 3C7
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Wood Pellet Production (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Dryer
Company: Pinnacle Renewable Energy
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Pinnacle Renewable Energy is a manufacturer and distributor of wood pellets for thermal power generators. It currently operates eight wood pellet production facilities throughout Western Canada and one production facility in Alabama. The Vernon Morning Star reported that the Coldstream facility was opened in 2015.
Incident Description:
On May 11, 2020, the Keremeos Review reported an explosion at a wood pellet manufacturer in Coldstream, BC.
The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m. and was so loud that nearby residents were woken up. One of them was the Lavington Fire Chief, who was paged soon afterwards.
Fire crews found a fire at the plant, which ran 24-7, and quickly doused it. Company management confirmed that the pellet plant experienced a process upset that resulted in a fire in one of the two dryer systems. It spread to the outbuildings, where the internal fire suppression system helped extinguish it.
No injuries were reported.
Previous Incidents
On March 29, 2016, Info News reported a fire in one of the burner rooms at the Pinnacle Renewable Energy plant in Coldstream, Bc.
Nearly two dozen firefighters from the Coldstream and Lavington departments responded shortly after 4:00 p.m. When they arrived, heavy smoke was billowing from the building, but they managed to get it under control by 6:00 p.m.
People were working at the plant at the time, but everyone got out safely. No injuries were reported.
Sources:
Keremeos Review
Info News
