Abstract: At approximately 6:00 p.m. on July 5, 1987, the operators of recovery boiler #3 at a pulp mill noticed a low level of water in the steam drum. For about 20 to 30 minutes, the feed water pump was inoperable, causing the boiler tubes to overheat from lack of water. At approximately 7:00 p.m., after a flow back, Employee #1 activated the rapid drain system to drain water and release steam from the boiler tubes. The rapid drain system failed, but the water supply to the boiler continued. At approximately 8:20 p.m., water leaking into the smelt bed caused an explosion in recovery boiler #3. Employees #1 and #2 was killed instantly. Employee #3 was burned and died after approximately three weeks in the hospital.