MONDAY, MARCH 16,
2015
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ)
A chemical spill and
explosion at a Fox Valley paper mill is now under investigation by federal
authorities.
The blast happened
just after 8 a.m. Monday at SCA Tissue in Menasha.
The incident forced
dozens of homes south of the facility to be evacuated as a precaution.
Federal authorities
say they are investigating a chemical leak and explosion at a Menasha paper
mill that forced people out of their homes.
No one was injured
in the blast at SCA Tissue, but dozens of homes south of the plant were
evacuated shortly after 8 a.m. Monday morning.
“Just a loud
explosion, sounded like a crack of thunder, real close to the house,” Jon
Muska, who lives on Lock Street, told FOX 11.
Muska says fire
department officials asked everyone to evacuate.
“Upon our arrival
and further investigation we did note there was a vapor cloud that was
emanating from the building also there was some liquid on the ground, outside
the building, which also had some vapors coming off of it,” Assistant Chief
Mike Sipin of the Neenah-Menasha Fire Department said.
According to
authorities, an "organic polymer" was being unloaded when it leaked.
The chemical made contact with another chemical, sodium hypochlorite, which is
a highly concentrated form of household bleach. Both of these are used in
cleaning water from the paper making process.
The two reacted,
creating heat and an explosion that blew off a portion of a roof of the plant.
Officials say sodium
hypochlorite is corrosive and can cause skin burns and irritation when
contacted or inhaled in large amounts.
Haz-Mat crews were
called in from Oshkosh and Appleton to handle the spill. Sipin says the spill
was contained before it could reach the sewer system and the evacuation was
precautionary.
By early Monday
afternoon, the evacuation order was lifted.
SCA officials say
the incident impacted only a small part of the plant and some operations.
The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says they're investigating the
incident. A complete report could take at least six months.
According to OSHA,
one inspection complaint was filed in December of last year for violating
housekeeping, plant safety and record keeping practices. OSHA’s area director
says the agency considers those somewhat minor infractions.
Source:www.fox11.com