LONGVIEW, Wash. — Multiple people are hurt after a “major chemical explosion” at a plant in Longview, according to the city’s fire department.
The Longview Fire Department (LFD) said crews are responding to a hazardous materials incident after an implosion involving a vat of chemical treatment product the Nippon Dynawave facility at 7:18 a.m. Tuesday.
Officials say there is no immediate threat to the public, but residents were told to stay away from Industrial Way and the surrounding area while emergency crews work.
According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, Nippon Dynawave is a kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant.
Multiple people have chemical burns and other injuries, LFD said on its Facebook page. Ambulances transported them to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.
The severity of the victims’ injuries is not yet known.
Fire crews and a hazmat team are working with plant employees.
“With around 550 employees, the pulp and paper mill makes about 280,000 tons of bleached liquid packaging paperboard, and wetlap and slush pulp each year. The liquid packaging plant has about 450 employees,” the ecology department said on its page for the facility.
Along with the LFD, Cowlitz County firefighters and deputies, and other first responders are working the incident.
The response includes five fire engines and seven ambulances.
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