Date: July 24, 2020
Location: Galesburg, Illinois
Address: 701 W. Sixth Street, 61401
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Dietary Fibre Manufacturing (Food Products)
Equipment: Grain Dryer
Company: J Rettenmaier USA LP
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Two Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, J Rettenmaier USA LP is the US subsidiary of J. RETTENMAIER & SÖHNE GmbH + Co KG. It manufactures and supplies insoluble dietary fibres and fibre types for various food applications.
Incident Description:
On July 25, 2020, the Journal Star reported a fire at a dietary fibre production facility in Galesburg, Illinois.
It began in a grain bin dryer sometime before 9:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, employees advised them that one of the bins had burning product inside it. White pressurized smoke could be seen emanating from a tower atop the facility.
Firefighters ran a hose line into the structure while employees sprayed water into the bin and cut open plastic tubes to extinguish the fire and remove burning product. Before the fire hoses could be turned on, an explosion occurred, sending a fireball ripping through the side of the building.
Two firefighters were knocked off a catwalk and taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. The explosion also blew off several ventilation panels and caused other firefighters to evacuate and assume a defensive position on the roof. They discharged hose streams into the area where the ventilation panels were blown off and continued for 15 minutes, until the fire was under control.
The building sustained heavy smoke and fire damage. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Sources:
Journal Star
