Date: November 19, 2018
Location: Invergordon, Ross-Shire (UK)
Address: Unit 16, Cromarty Firth Industrial Estate, IV18 0LT
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Wood Products and Biomass Renewable Energy
Equipment: Silo
Company: Balcas Timber
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Balcas Timber is a timber products supplier that has also pioneered biomass renewable energy in the UK. It was established in 1962 and operates from several locations, including a sawmill in Enniskillen and combined heat and power plants in Enniskillen and Invergordon. The company currently has 360 employees and engages an additional 300 people in forest harvesting and haulage.
Incident Description:
On November 20, 2018, the Press and Journal reported a silo fire at a timber products supplier and power plant in Invergordon, UK.
The fire service responded to the call at 10:50 p.m. on November 19. After mobilizing four pumps and a ladder truck, they went to the site, where a large silo containing 14,000 tons of wood pellets was on fire.
On November 21, the Press and Journal confirmed that all employees were safely evacuated and that emergency crews worked through the night to bring the fire under control while on-site staff used excavators to remove wood pellets from the storage tank.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reported that the firefighters used a new technology called Ultra High Pressure Lances to contain the fire. After using one to bore a hole in the steel wall of the silo, they sprayed water directly into the burning embers buried under tons of wood pellets and prevented the fire from spreading. The UHPL technology eliminated the need for firefighters to dig through burning wood to access the smouldering pellets.
Fire crews remained on site for four days to monitor the remaining material within the silo, and eliminate any hotspots.
No injuries were reported.
Sources:
Press and Journal (November 20)
Press and Journal (November 21)
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
