Date: March 23, 2021
Location: Silverton, Oregon (USA)
Address: 13166 Riches Road SE, 97381
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Crop Preparation Services (Agriculture)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Riches Seeds
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: One Dead, One Injured
Capital Cost: $1,400,000 USD
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
Riches Seeds does not appear to have a website, but its DnB entry states that it is a seed cleaning and crop preparation business in Silverton, Oregon. It was founded in 2009 and employs approximately five people.
Incident Description:
On March 23, 2021, KATU2 reported a dust explosion at a seed cleaning and crop preparation services company in Silverton, Oregon.
First responders were called out at about 9:00 a.m. Seeing the second and third floors engulfed in flames and wall fragments in the surrounding yard, they quickly upgraded the fire to a 3-alarm response, calling in additional units from nearby communities. According to KGW8, the fire sent a plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen from miles away.
Initial reports stated three people may have been trapped on the second floor of the building. However, managers told arriving firefighters that only one person on the third floor of the seed cleaner and he was definitely deceased. Another worker was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but later returned to the scene.
Heavy fire and collapse potential deemed the structure unsafe for offensive fire attack. Units arriving were given instruction for defensive operations. A medical unit branch, safety officer, a water supply group supervisor and a rapid intervention team was established.
During suppression operations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Officer arrived with three deputies. Additionally, the Deputy State Fire Marshal arrived and multiple mutual and auto aid agencies also arrived and assisted with suppression activities.
The deceased employee had been on the third floor, removing a tarp that covered a seed waste and chaff bunker. This bunker funneled waste seed and chaff to a conveyor which took it to the outside of the structure. The seed cleaner was not in operation and they were in the process of dismantling the bunker for new equipment to be installed.
One worker advised that he had heard a large explosion and, when he investigated the situation, found the deceased with traumatic injuries. The business owner was able to show video surveillance of the ground floor directly under where the deceased man was working. While watching the video, dust could be observed coming from the doorway of the lower area of the bunker. There were periods of light dust, no dust and then heavy dust coming from the doorway. The video showed four quick flame bursts coming from the door area, followed by a rapid expansion in volume associated with an explosion.
Investigation of the bunker doorway showed extreme charring on the top and bottom of heavy timbers used for the floor. This heavy charring appeared to be indicative of slow burning that may have started many hours earlier.
No other information about property damage was available., but losses are estimated at $1,400,000.
Sources:
KATU2
KGW8
Silverton Fire Department Report #21-0000477
