After 24 hours idled, restart results in 4 alarm fire...

No matter the type of incident we hope that the reader can take something away from our posts that will make you and your plant or company safer. Here is a recent story:

A fire Saturday at Pace Industries' Airo Division plant in Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania, USA was contained to dust collectors outside the facility, fire officials said.

Fire crews from Derry Township, Latrobe, Greensburg and Westmoreland City responded after a fire was reported before 10:30 a.m. at the plant on Industrial Boulevard. While the flames were kept outside the plant, Derry Township fire Chief said crews helped to vent smoke that entered the building.

No injuries were reported. Derry Township fire Chief said officials weren't sure what caused the fire. He noted the units, which collect volatile aluminum dust, had not been in use the prior 24 hours.

We are glad that no workers nor emergency responders were injured fighting this fire. We find useful information in every incident. In this story the statement from the fire chief “noted the units, which collect volatile aluminum dust, had not been in use the prior 24 hours.” We have posted many incidents that have occurred after machinery has been idle for myriad reasons including but not limited to maintenance shutdowns, holidays, weekends, etc. We wonder why after a 24 hour period of no use a fire occurred. We hope that our readers who are familiar with dust collectors will comment on possible root causes.

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