Water Tank Blast at Carroll County, MD, Nursery Leaves Man with Serious Burns

It was dispatched as an explosion with collapse with multiple people injured and possibly 20 trapped.

The initial assignment at Catoctin Mountain Growers included EMS, firefighters and advanced technical rescue teams from several jurisdictions as it sits close to the Carroll and Frederick county lines.

"Hearing what we were facing, I requested the Go Team right away," said Carroll County Fire and EMS Chief/Director Michael Robinson, adding that he also requested additional ambulances and medic units as well. Mutural aid involved several counties as well as Pennsylvania.

The Go Team from R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center responds via state police helicopter to assist at incidents that involve extended extrications.

When the first crews found three burn patients and no one trapped in the twisted steel of the collapsed building, the Go Team was cancelled.

"They were all out of the building. They (the workers) had pulled them out before anyone arrived."

One man, 65, who suffered extensive burns, was flown to the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. Two other workers, also burned, were transported by ambulances to the same facility. 

"We were initially told a boiler had exploded. But that's not what happened. A water tank holding 1.1 million gallons of hot water overpressured and blew..."

The force sent the 180-degree water flooding everywhere, caused part of the metal building to collapse, ripped axles from tractor-trailers and moved others several feet. A pickup truck was found in the debris on the roof.

As they approached, firefighters found steam coming from the liquid in the road.

"The plant manager advised there were 85 people working in the nursery that day, including 20 in the area where the tank failed. He had a roster with their phone numbers. They came to the command post to check in."

Robinson said there was still concern about another collapse.

The blast damaged pipes carrying liquid fertilizer and a sheen was observed in a nearby creek that runs into the Monocacy River.

"Maryland Department of Environment officials looked and determined the content would be diluted by the water..."

In addition to the state fire marshal's office, Robinson requested a state boiler inspector to respond. 

"I knew the state had one because I had dealt with them while I in Baltimore County..."

The investigation is continuing by the Maryland Department of Labor Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Inspection Unit.

Catoctin Mountain Growers supplies flowers and other plants to large retailers as well as the public. It features 17 acres of under-glass greenhouse and 15 acres of outdoor growing space, according to its website.

It was open for business the day after the incident.