Morning explosion at Boise Corp. causes minimal damage, no injuries – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2009-10-03

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Morning explosion at Boise Corp. causes minimal damage, no injuries Oct 03, 2009 12:00 AM A A A minor explosion at a closed Boise Corp. plywood mill likely was caused when flames from a small fire were sucked into an air-compressor filter, fire investigators from Jackson County Fire District No. 3 concluded. Neighbors of the plant at 1795 Antelope Road, White City, reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke at about 9:30 a.m. Friday. What firefighters described as a "low-order explosion" blew out a large metal vent and buckled metal siding in the compressor room. A fire sprinkler system doused the flames before they could spread. "We could see a black column of smoke from the station, but by the time we were part way here, the smoke was white, indicating that water was getting on it," said Don Hickman, a deputy fire marshal with the district, which has its headquarters just down Antelope Road. Hickman said sparks from a fan motor likely started a small fire in a barrel of absorbent material used to soak up spilled oil. Big fans that help cool the compressors sucked the flames into a compressor air filter, igniting it. Hickman said only one compressor was running as crews winterized the closed plant. No one was injured.