Date: January 10, 2019
Location: McPherson, Kansas (USA)
Address: 503 W Hayes Street, 67460
Type: Potential Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Chemical Products
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Chemstar Products Company
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: $4 million to $6 million
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Chemstar Products Company specializes in industrial starch polymers. It was founded in 1965 in McPherson, Kansas and is presently headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The McPherson plant provides pre-gel corn products to oil and gas companies to help control fluid loss in drilling while another facility in Carlton, Minnesota is the site of its starch derivative business.
Incident Description:
On January 10, 2019, KWCH 12 reported a series of explosions and a fire at a chemical plant in McPherson, Kansas.
People living in the vicinity of the plant reported hearing explosions. After extinguishing the flames, firefighters remained on the scene throughout the evening to monitor hot spots and stop any flare-ups.
On January 14, KWCH 12 reported that the McPherson Fire Department did not identify the cause of the fire but did say that it was accidental.
No one was injured. Damage was estimated at $4 million to $6 million.