Date: April 2, 2019
Location: Bridgeport, West Virginia (USA)
Address: 5856 Saltwell Road, 26330
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Asphalt Dust
Industry: Concrete Production
Equipment: Baghouse
Company: J.F. Allen Company
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, J.F. Allen Company is a road materials production company headquartered in Buckhannon, West Virginia. It was established in 1946 and has four other outlets across the state. The company specializes in heavy highway construction and produces crushed limestone and hot-mix asphalt at its two quarries and three plants.
Incident Description:
On April 2, 2019, the Exponent Telegram reported a dust explosion and fire at a construction plant in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
The fire was reported at 11:34 a.m., soon after a dust explosion occurred in the asphalt-mixing lines, near an area where lime was stored. Although the fire was contained to a portion of the plant, that area sustained significant damage and was shut down by the time fire crews arrived.
Connect Bridgeport reported that heavy smoke was pouring from a silo storage building and that the explosion blew some parts of the silo over 300 feet away. The Bridgeport Fire Chief told reporters, “It could have been a lot worse because there is hazardous material on the premise that’s used to mix the asphalt product. If that scrap metal that blew off during the explosion would have pierced a tank where the material was stored it could have potentially been a serious situation.”
He added that 15 minutes to the explosion, a tanker truck had been in the area, unloading hazardous material.
The Bridgeport Fire Department and three volunteer departments remained at the scene until 1:30 p.m, when the plant was partially re-opened.
The Fire Chief confirmed that no one was injured. The cause of the explosion was attributed to overheating of the plant baghouse.
Sources:
Exponent Telegram
Connect Bridgeport
