Date: May 11, 2022
Location: Winchester, Virginia (USA)
Address: 3229 Shawnee Drive, 22602
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Composite Decking (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Dust Collector
Company: Trex
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Trex is a composite deck materials manufacturer in Winchester, Virginia. It was formed in 1996 through the buyout of a division of Mobil Corporation and went public in 1999. Today, Trex offers a wide range of composite products, which are available in more than 40 countries around the world, and has the largest market share of composite decking in North America.
Incident Description:
On May 16, 2022, the River 95.3 reported a dust collector explosion at a composite deck materials manufacturer in Winchester, Virginia.
The fire was reported on May 11 at approximately 5:40 p.m. The Trex Emergency Response Team (ERT) was fighting a dust explosion fire at one of the plant’s mixers when FCFR crews arrived. They worked together over an hour to keep the fire from spreading to the 70 yards of piping and the roof of the building.
The fire was fully extinguished by 8:20 p.m. It was determined that the fire was accidental and the result of equipment malfunction.
One employee who was working around the equipment at the time of the dust explosion was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Sources:
River 95.3
