Date: November 25, 2018
Location: Martinsburg, West Virginia (USA)
Address: 1826 South Queen Street, 25401
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Unknown
Industry: Cement Making
Equipment: Dust Collector
Company: Argos Cement Company
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Argos Cement Company produces and markets cement and ready-mix concrete. It was founded in 1934 and is currently the second largest cement producer in the Southeastern United States. It has four plants in the U.S. seven in Colombia, and two in Honduras. Its total installed capacity is 23 million tons of cement per year.
The location in Martinsburg, West Virginia, formerly belonged to Capitol Cement. It dates back to the 1800s and can produce more than 2 million metric tons of cement per year.
Incident Description:
On November 25, 2018, the Herald-Mail Media reported an explosion and fire at a cement plant in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
At 3:54 p.m. that afternoon, someone in the vicinity of the plant called 911 and reported hearing an explosion. (Some people later said that they felt their houses shake.) Responding firefighters discovered a fire at the plant. They had it under control by 6:44 p.m. and left the scene shortly after 8:00 p.m.
On November 26, Powder & Bulk Solids reported that a small explosion in a piece of dust collection equipment caused the fire. A company statement indicated that both the explosion and fire were being internally investigated.
No injuries were reported.
Sources:
Herald-Mail Media
Powder & Bulk Solids
