Date: August 7, 2019
Location: Elverson, Pennsylvania (USA)
Address: 69 East Main Street, 19520
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Cabinet Making (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Dust Collector
Company: Vixen Hill
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Vixen Hill is a cabinet-making company that specializes in pre-engineered cedar wood products. They include shutters, shutter hardware, modular gazebos, garden houses, pavilions and porch systems. The company was founded in 1980 and is located in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
Incident Description:
On August 8, 2019, Powder & Bulk Solids reported an explosion and fire at a specialty woodworking facility in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. Its vibrations could be felt several blocks away. Arriving fire crews found that sawdust had exploded and caused a fire in the facility’s dust collector.
The plant owner told the Berksmont News that he had a “loud boom” as the explosion went throughout the building. He said that sawdust ignited in the baghouse, which is “like a big shop vac.”
Over 12 employees were working at the plant when the explosion happened, but no injuries were reported. Nearly two-thirds of the building sustained damages due to an explosion and a fire from the top of the tower.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion and fire has been opened.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
Berksmont News
