The Associated Press
By KATHRYN THIER
Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)
Dust ignited by an unknown source was to blame for several explosions at a livestock feed plant here Friday, according to fire officials. One worker was killed and another was seriously injured.
“The fire in Kinston, this is the same thing all over again,” said Iredell County Fire Marshal Lloyd Ramsey, referring to a 2003 fire that started when dust ignited at a Kinston pharmaceutical plant, killing six and injuring dozens.
At the Land O’Lakes Purina Feed plant in Statesville, there were at least three explosions, each more violent than the one before, Ramsey said. Because of the extensive damage, it’s unclear which of the explosions started the main fire that raged for over 24 hours, although it is known that the first explosion was in the basement, he said.
The N.C. Labor Department conducted its first routine inspection of the nine-year-old plant Dec. 22 and found no evidence of any conditions that would lead to an explosion.
Grinding animal feed produces dust, which can cause an explosion anywhere, Ramsey said. It’s lucky more people weren’t injured, he said.
“If it had (happened) on first shift, it could’ve been very, very much worse,” he said.
Purina employee Jimmy Booe, 24, died Saturday from burns he received during one of the explosions. He was working near a large container of propionic acid, which caught fire, Ramsey said.
Propionic acid is a mold inhibitor used during feed production. The Purina plant makes about 160,000 tons of livestock feed a year and supplies commercial dairy farms in Eastern North Carolina.
Ricky Christopher, 37, of Catawba, was burned trying to extinguish the flames on his friend Booe once the men got outside, Ramsey said.
Booe died of his injuries at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Christopher was in serious but stable condition there Wednesday.
The other six people working at the plant early Friday morning were safely evacuated.