Date: June 12, 2020
Location: Mooresville, North Carolina (USA)
Address: 279 Mooresville Boulevard, 28115
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Paper Dust
Industry: Paper Production (Pulp & Paper)
Equipment: Cardboard Processing Machine
Company: WestRock
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $2 million
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company’s website, WestRock is a paper products company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It manufactures containerboard, corrugated containers, displays, folding cartons, and related products. The company employs 50,000 employees across more than 320 manufacturing facilities, design centers, research labs, and sales offices around the world.
Incident Description:
On June 12, 2020, the Mooresville Tribune reported a fire at a paper products company in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Mooresville Fire-Rescue arrived shortly before 1:00 a.m. and discovered the sprinkler had contained the fire to a piece of equipment that feeds blank sheets of cardboard into a printing and cutting process. After the fire was under control, the company’s safety and maintenance team members removed the equipment’s exterior panels to confirm the flames had been fully extinguished.
An investigation determined that the fire occurred after cardboard dust that had accumulated in the equipment ignited. No injuries were reported, as all 30 employees on the premises at the time were safely evacuated. Damage was estimated at up to $2 million.
Sources:
Mooresville Tribune
