Date: March 22, 2018
Location: West Lebanon, New Hampshire (USA)
Address: 82 Benning Street, West Lebanon, NH 03784
Type: Dust Collector Fire
Fuel: Metal Dust
Industry: Welding Manufacturing
Equipment: Portable Dust Collector
Company: Victor Technologies
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
Victor Technologies was founded in 1987 and operated under the name Thermadyne Holdings until a name change in 2012. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the company manufactures cutting and welding equipment for construction as part of its plasma torch manufacturing operation. In 2014, the company was purchased by Colfax, part of Swedish multinational, ESAB.
Description of Metal Dust Fire:
According to WCAX, at around noon on March 22, 2018, the West Lebanon Fire Department responded to a call at Victor Technologies, a welding equipment manufacturer. When the fire department arrived they found smoke coming from the eaves in the back of the building and immediately radioed for assistance from the neighbouring communities of Hanover and Hartford, Vermont.
Prior to calling the fire department, employees attempted to extinguish the fire but were unsuccessful. The actual fire, which occurred when metal dust ignited paper filters within a portable dust collector, was contained quickly, however, the entire building received significant smoke damage. This included smoke damage to several of the other businesses housed within the sprawling facility.
The Fire Chief stated that this was the third such fire in the metal dust collection system in that building in the 16 years that he has served as Chief; although he added that the last incident was several years prior and may have predated Victor Technologies’ purchase of the facility.
He did add that the tendency for the equipment to catch fire over and over “appears to be just generally a housekeeping thing on their end. We will definitely have a conversation with them about how we can lessen the likelihood of it happening again.”
No one was injured during the incident.
Sources:
WCAX
WUVR
Valley News
Daily UV
City of Lebanon
My Champlain Valley