Date: April 23, 2019
Location: Stockton, California (USA)
Address: 433 West Scotts Avenue, 95203
Type: Potential Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Pallet and Lumber Production (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Masonite
Database Incidents:
Loss: One Injury
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Masonite International Corporation manufactures interior and exterior doors, door components, and door entry systems. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, it produces over 120,000 doors a day, has over 60 facilities, and employs over 9,000 people across the globe.
Incident Description:
On April 23, 2019, SFGate reported a six-alarm fire at a pallet and lumber business in Stockton, California.
When firefighters reached the scene at 3:00 a.m., huge flames were visible throughout the facility, but the fire was reduced to smoke by 7:00 a.m.
Heat from the fire caused power lines to drop into the burn area even after the local utility provider had cut power to downtown Stockton. An estimated 18,000 people were left without power and several businesses and city buildings had to close.
One firefighter was injured and hospitalized with neck and back pain. The Stockton Fire Chief confirmed that he was “doing OK.”
Many of the firefighters who responded to the incident were exhausted, having fought a three-alarm fire at the Port of Stockton the previous afternoon. Fire departments from surrounding areas were called in to help.
On April 27, MSN announced that the company was shutting down that location after the fire and seeking to place employees in other facilities.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search revealed four OSHA inspections for the Masonite location on West Scotts Avenue, but none of them were flagged for combustible dust.
