Schofield, WI, Oct. 14, 2005 — An explosion and fire at the American Wood Fibers plant claimed the life of one worker, seriously injured another and destroyed three buildings. Warehouse 2, measuring 90 by 300 feet, was built in 1987; Warehouse 3, at 80 by 200 feet, was erected in 1984; and the System 1 building was built in 1991. All three buildings were Type 2 non-combustible construction with metal roofs. Sprinkler systems were installed throughout the buildings. American Wood Fibers manufactures wood flour, pet and livestock bedding, and animal care products.
The Schofield Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 5:22 A.M. to a reported explosion and fire at the facility, located at 100 Alderson St. Responding on the initial alarm were Engines 1 and 2, Med 1 and Med 2, and Command 1, with 22 firefighters under the command of Fire Chief Doug Jennings. Upon arrival, firefighters were faced with several challenges, including the possibility of additional explosions, structural collapse and trapped employees. The shift supervisor informed Jennings that all employees were accounted for except for one, and provided exact directions on where to locate the person.
Schofield Engine 1 was positioned on Grossman Street and supplied with a 600-foot line from a hydrant. Crews deployed one 1¾-inch line and two 2½-inch lines from this engine into Warehouse 3 in order to gain access to the victim. Schofield Engine 2 was also positioned on Grossman Street and its manpower assisted Engine 1's firefighters. Jennings requested mutual aid from the Weston Fire Department at 5:26. Weston Engine 1, Truck 1, Rescue 1, Med 2 and Car 1 responded with 19 firefighters under the command of Chief Michael Pierce. Jennings assigned Pierce to Alderson Street command. Weston Engine 1 was positioned on the south side of Warehouse 2 on Alderman Street and was supplied by a 700-foot, four-inch hydrant line. This engine placed two 1¾-inch lines, two 2½-inch lines and a three-inch deluge gun into operation. Weston Ladder 1 was positioned on Alderson Street on the north side of Warehouse 2 and set up for aerial master stream operations. Weston units were assigned to defensive operations to prevent the fire from spreading to Warehouse 4 and to control the fire in Warehouse 3.
Jennings requested additional mutual aid at 5:30 A.M. The Rothschild Fire Department responded with Ladder 1, Engine 1 and 16 firefighters. The Wausau Fire Department responded with Ladder 1, Engine 1 and 10 firefighters. Both departments were assigned to Pierce on Alderson Street to assist in protecting Warehouse 4. Rothschild Engine 1 laid 450 feet of four-inch line from a hydrant to Weston's aerial. The Ringle Fire Department and Rib Mountain Fire Department were requested to respond to the scene at 8:10 A.M. Manpower from these departments provided relief crews throughout the day. A dump site was established two blocks from the scene where the burning sawdust and loaded trailers were taken. Schofield Engine 2 was set up at the dump site to extinguish the burning material as it was hauled in. This engine was supplied by a tanker shuttle operation drafting from a portable tank.
Jennings declared the fire under control at 9 P.M., 16 hours after the initial alarm. The last mutual aid units were released at 12:15 P.M. on Oct. 15. Schofield equipment left the scene at 5 P.M. that day, 36 hours after the initial alarm. Schofield units were recalled to the scene 13 times over the next five days to extinguish flare-ups in the debris. The majority of these calls were due to numerous silo fires. Personnel from American Wood Fibers monitored the scene and called the fire department when needed.
Investigators from Schofield Fire Department, Wisconsin State Fire Marshal's Office, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and several insurance companies investigated the explosion and fire. Damage was estimated at $4 million to the buildings, equipment and contents. Firefighters were able to save seven buildings with an estimated value of $10 million.
Initially, the water supply on the hydrants was not sufficient, but the Department of Public Works boosted the pressure, rectifying the problem quickly. American Wood Fibers is active in pre-planning with the fire department, providing current maps and marking of all buildings.
The pre-plan called for connecting to the fire department connection (FDC) for the sprinkler system, but the first-in crew reported that the mains were blown apart, rendering the sprinkler system ineffective. The decision was made not to hook on to the FDC, and to place master streams into operation defensively on Warehouse 3. Pre-planning also included walk-throughs and drills. False alarms and small fires in the past also helped firefighters pre-plan the facility.
JAY K. BRADISH/IFPA, Firehouse® news editor, is a former captain in the Bradford Township, PA, Fire Department. He has been a volunteer firefighter and fire photographer for more than 25 years.
