UPDATE: Dust Explosion Eyed as Cause of WV Plant FireUPDATE: Dust Explosion Eyed as Cause of WV Plant Fire

November 26, 2018

1 Min Read
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Argos Cement Co. said in a report by the Martinsburg Journal-News on Monday that a “small explosion” in a piece of dust collection equipment caused a fire last Sunday at the firm’s Martinsburg, WV plant. 

A company statement sent to the newspaper said the blast and fire are being internally investigated. Argos Cement said the facility was not operating on Monday so that the cause of the fire can be found and the company can safely start up the site. 

Fire crews from several municipalities responded to the blaze last Sunday evening after receiving a 911 call for a possible explosion at the site, Powder & Bulk Solids reported. Personnel from Martinsburg and seven other fire departments made their way to the S. Queen street facility after the incident was reported at about 3:51 p.m., officials from Berkeley County Central Dispatch told the Martinsburg Journal-News.

The fire burned for about two hours until it was extinguished by firefighters at the scene, coverage by local television news station WDVM said. No injuries were documented during the incident.  

Hagerstown, MD-based Herald-Mail Media reported that the plant was formerly owned by Capitol Cement and has a capacity of 2 million mt/yr. 

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