TranslateAccident Report Detail
Accident: 200070373 - Two Firefighters Injured In Silo Fire And Explosion
| Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301927745 | 01/12/1998 | 9999 | West Iredell Volunteer Fire Department |
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on December 21, 1997, Employees #1 and #2, both volunteer firefighters, were helping to extinguish a blaze in a 70 ft tall by 20 ft diameter silo. They were on top of the structure, hosing the flames inside, and thought the fire was extinguished as coworkers removed a bottom panel of the silo to dispense the 10,000 gallons of water they had pumped into it. When the panel was removed, a back draft occurred, followed by an explosion. Employee #1 fell 30 ft into the silo and was trapped inside for between 45 and 60 minutes. He suffered second-degree burns on his face and hands. Employee #2 was thrown approximately 35 ft into the air and crashed through the tin roof of a trailer that was about two-thirds full with sawdust. He sustained an injury to his right knee and a separated right shoulder.
| Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 301927745 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 301927745 | Hospitalized injury | Dislocation | Occupation not reported |