"A major chemical explosion occurred at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview, Washington, on Tuesday at 7:18 a.m."
Incident
On Tuesday at 7:18 a.m., a major chemical explosion occurred at the Nippon Dynawave facility in Longview, Washington. The Longview Fire Department (LFD) responded to a hazardous materials incident involving an implosion of a vat containing a chemical treatment product.
Injuries and Response
Multiple people sustained chemical burns and other injuries. Ambulances transported victims to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. The severity of injuries is not yet known.
Emergency crews include fire engines, ambulances, hazmat teams, and personnel from LFD, Cowlitz County, and other first responders. The response involves five fire engines and seven ambulances.
Public Safety
Officials stated there is no immediate threat to the public. Residents were advised to avoid Industrial Way and surrounding areas during response operations.
Facility Background
According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, Nippon Dynawave operates a kraft pulp and paper mill and a liquid packaging plant. The pulp and paper mill employs about 550 people and produces approximately 280,000 tons of bleached liquid packaging paperboard, wetlap, and slush pulp annually. The liquid packaging plant employs about 450 people.