Date: April 19, 2022
Location: Stevens, Pennsylvania (USA)
Address: 77 N. Reamstown Road, 17578
Type: Potential Dust Fire
Fuel: Aluminum Dust
Industry: Aluminum Foundry (Metal Working)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Boose Aluminum Foundry
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Boose Aluminum Foundry is an aluminum castings factory in Stevens, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1933 and manufactures castings from several ounces to over 2,000 pounds with lengths approaching 10 feet.
Incident Description:
On April 20, 2022, Lancaster Online reported a fire at an aluminum castings factory in Stevens, Pennsylvania.
The fire started shortly before noon. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames and smoke coming from the building.
Although the complex is composed of just one building, the foundry is made up of several buildings put together with numerous structural changes that made firefighting difficult. Water was also difficult to bring to the site, requiring many long hoses to be laid.
Numerous firefighting units were called to the scene, including a state police fire marshal. As the roof weakened, firefighters attacked the flames defensively from outside.
The fire, which continued to grow due to strong winds in the afternoon, did not cause injuries to workers or firefighters. They remained at the scene until past 7:00 p.m.
Fire officials are not sure what caused the fire, which started near – but not in – a dust collection system at the plant.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up one OSHA inspection dated September 17, 2021, but it was not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
Lancaster Online
