Date: July 20, 2018
Location: Massillon, Ohio (USA)
Address: 670 17th Street NW, 44647
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Paper Dust
Industry: Corrugated Paper (Paper Products)
Equipment: Ventilation System
Company: Fibercorr Mills, LLC
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Fibercorr Mills, LLC was established in 1967 and started out with five machines used to make strut tubes. Today, it operates as a paper company that offers concora crush testing, ring crush testing, water drop testing, and caliper services to customers across the United States.
Description of Paper Dust Fire:
On July 20, 2018, local news resource the Independent reported a small fire in the ventilation system at a corrugated paper mill in Massillon, Ohio. When firefighters arrived shortly after 6:30 a.m., they found that the blaze had already been extinguished by the company’s sprinkler system. The fire was still smouldering so firefighters checked the building for hot spots and found none.
The Fire Department Captain said that papermaking was a “messy process” that generates a lot of dust. In this case, the dust collected in the ventilation system and caught fire after being exposed to heat.
No injuries were reported and the value of any property damage was unknown.
Previous Incidents:
There have been prior incidents at Fibercorr Mills, LLC. On September 23, 2011, the Independent reported a fire in the plant ventilation system. According to reports, heavy smoke was visible from the roof of the building when the fire crews arrived, though no flames could be seen. One employee sustained burns to his hands but refused an ambulance and sought medical care on his own. The sprinkler system helped to keep structural damage to a minimum but some machinery parts had to be replaced.
Five years later, on October 10, 2016, the news agency WHBC reported another fire in the ventilation system at FiberCorr. The plant was evacuated and one employee experienced a minor injury.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search showed two OSHA inspections for Fibercorr Mills, LLC, but none involved combustible dust.
Sources:
Independent (2018 incident)
Independent (2011 incident)
WHBC
