Date: February 22, 2022
Location: Hermiston, Oregon (USA)
Address: 78035 OR-207, 97838
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Unknown
Industry: Snack Food Production (Food Processing)
Equipment: Boiler
Company: Shearer’s Foods
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Six Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Shearer’s Foods is a snack food company headquartered in Massillon, Ohio. It was founded in 1974 and produces chips, cheese puffs, cookies and crackers. The Hermiston, Oregon location employs approximately 400 people and commenced operations in 2010.
Incident Description:
On February 23, 2022, the Tri-City Herald reported an explosion and fire at a snack food manufacturer in Hermiston, Oregon.
Employees called 911 at 12:51 p.m. on Feb. 22 and reported a boiler explosion with possible injuries. Fire crews from Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, Hermiston, were the first on the scene. A total of 60 firefighters from this district and eight other agencies responded.
The fire destroyed the warehouse and all that was inside, but crews were able to prevent it from spreading further. Having enough water was the primary challenge, as the site had one fire hydrant, and the water tenders at the scene ran low.
The smoke from the fire caused problems: a hotel and some homes had to be evacuated. Authorities diverted cars from the vicinity of the plant and blocked the road outside. A hazmat team came over to monitor water runoff.
Seventy-three employees evacuated the warehouse. Six were injured and taken to a medical centre, where they were treated and released.
The sheriff’s office reported the cause of the explosion and fire was a natural gas portable boiler.
Sources:
Tri-City Herald
East Oregonian
