Date: December 2, 2022
Location: Kent, Ohio (USA)
Address: 162 North Water Street, 44240
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Processing (Agriculture)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Star Of The West Milling Company
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
The mill building used to belong to Star Of The West Milling Company, which is now closed. There are nine buildings in the complex, including four manufacturing spaces (all built in 1882), two office buildings (1900), a retail store (1900), and two warehouses (one built in 1882 and one in 1945). Mill operations ended in 2016.
Incident Description:
On December 2, 2022, the Record-Courier reported a fire and explosion at a former mill property in Kent, Ohio.
The Kent Fire Department responded after it got the call at 8:45 a.m. Within three minutes of firefighters arriving on scene, there was an explosion that compromised the building. Consequently, firefighters were unable to enter the building safely, complicating efforts to extinguish the fire and forcing them to stay on the scene longer.
To complete the building’s extinguishment, the department hired a demolition company to lower burned and unburned materials.
No injuries were reported. The Kent Fire Department and State Fire Marshal are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Sources:
Record-Courier
