Date: May 29, 2019
Location: Thomson, Georgia (USA)
Address: 1241 Harrison Road SE, 30824
Type: Dust Fire
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Particleboard Production (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Silo
Company: Thomson Georgia Pacific
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Georgia-Pacific is a leading manufacturer of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products, and related chemicals that fill a diverse range of home commercial and industrial needs. It has over 180 locations across the globe and employs 30,000 people. The facility in Thomson, Georgia, is a particleboard plant with 100 employees.
Incident Description:
On May 30, 2019, the McDuffie Progress reported a silo fire at a particleboard plant in Thomson, Georgia.
The fire began on May 29. After employees tried and failed to contain it, McDuffie Fire Rescue and Thomson Fire received a dispatch at 2.55 p.m. They set up a temporary command post at a nearby high school while tankers provided water to keep the fire contained. A mobile operations center was also created.
After fighting the fire offensively for hours, firefighters assumed a defensive mode to keep the fire contained. At least 15 fire departments were involved in the effort. In the meantime, public access to the vicinity was restricted: roadblocks were set up on both the Thomson Bypass and Harrison Road side of the portion of White Oak Street, where the facility is located.
No injuries were reported, but firefighters reported that around 80% of the facilities were damaged. On June 4, the Augusta Chronicle confirmed that the plant would not be rebuilt.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Sources:
McDuffie Progress
Augusta Chronicle
