Updated July 29, 2024
Date of Incident: April 26, 2017
Location: Port Manatee, Florida (USA)
Address: 2327 S Dock Street, 34221
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Sulfur Dust
Industry: Bulk Shipping and Cargo
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Logistec Gulf Coast, LLC
Previous Incidents: Dust Fire on April 17, 2017
Loss: Five Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Description
A fire at a sulfur storage mound in Port Manatee, Florida sent five people to the hospital and forced authorities to temporarily close U.S. Highway 41. It was the second fire at the site in two weeks.
In 2015, one of Port Manatee’s tenants leased property for a new two-acre sulfur storage mound. The mound caught fire on April 17, destroying a dump truck and forcing the evacuation of nearby buildings. It ignited again on April 26, and five people were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation after they attempted to put out the fire, according to local media.
Sulfur fires pose an additional hazard to first responders: the release of hydrogen sulfide gas, which may be produced when the sulfur is heated. The gas is both toxic and highly flammable, and its presence can lower the flash point of sulfur dust.
Fire crews were actively engaged in combating the blaze shortly after it was reported, and it was extinguished by midnight. Michael Rampino, chief of the North River Fire District, told media that his crews used a drone with an infrared camera to identify hot spots and track the smoke plume from the fire.
The April 26 blaze likely broke out when a sweeping machine made contact with a metal object, creating sparks and igniting flammable dust, according to Frank Vanelli, a spokesman for Logistec Gulf Coast, LLC, the storage facility’s operator. The previous fire is believed to have been caused by a truck driving over dry sulfur; the truck driver took his vehicle outside of a marked area that is kept damp for safety, and the friction from the tires ignited loose material.
The facility operator suspended operations until they could install a new water irrigation system to help reduce the risk of ignition. The company will also switch to handling the dust by hand instead of with machinery that could cause sparks. A spokesperson for Port Manatee told reporters that the port authority is looking into additional safety measures.
Logistec Gulf Coast, LLC is a joint venture approved by the Manatee County Port Authority. Gulf Coast Bulk Equipment, Inc. and Logistec USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Logistec Corp, reached an agreement to create Logistec Gulf Coast, LLC. The company provides stevedoring services and bulk shipping services in Port Manatee, Florida.
Related Companies: None
News Articles: Link 1, Link 2
Industry Articles: Link 1
Keywords: Sulfur Dust, Shipping
