Date: June 5, 2019
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (CA)
Address: 126 Wheeler Street, S7P 0A9
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Aluminum Dust
Industry: Ambulance Production (Automotive)
Equipment: Dust Collector
Company: Crestline Coach Ltd.
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $15,000
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Crestline Coach Ltd. is an ambulance and specialty vehicle production company located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was founded in 1975 and specializes in EMS, police, fire and healthcare services vehicles.
Incident Description:
On June 7, 2019, Powder & Bulk Solids reported a fire at an ambulance production plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Firefighters arrived at around 2:54 p.m. At some point, plant staff tried to use fire extinguishers to put out the flames but did not succeed, as the extinguishers were not intended for combustible metal fires. The fire was swiftly put out by fire crews, and then personnel ventilated the facility to clear out smoke and carbon monoxide.
Fire officials said that “inadequate maintenance” of the dust collector likely caused the incident. The Saskatoon Fire Department stated in a press release that static electricity is believed to have ignited aluminum dust as it passed through a filtration system.
Workers were safely evacuated and there were no injuries. Damage to the facility was estimated at CAD$20,000, or about $15,000 USD.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
