PEABODY THREATENED BY FIRE RESULTING FROM CHEMICAL BLAST
Mutual Aid Functions to Confine NearConflagration Caused by Explosion of Chemicals
A Special Report
Editor’s Note: This is the case history of another fire that is the product of this chemical era. It provides convincing evidence of the hazards inherent with modern chemical processing, especially where such operations are carried out in populated areas.
The editors acknowledge with thanks the several reports on this fire contributed by our readers. Particular appreciation is extended to Messrs. J. E. Kelley Jr., and L. E. Martin of the Town of Danvers, for basic data and phototographs incorporated in this Report.
TAKE a built-up metropolitan area, crowded with combustible buildings and multiple occupancies: add one manufacturing plant engaged in the processing of chemicals and resins, including vinyl acetate and acetone, and you have a situation that spoils hazard to the community, and danger to the fire service, as well as to the plant workers.
Such a recipe for trouble was “cooking” in the busy community of Peabody, Mass., on April 30, last, when the pot boiled over, perhaps literally as well as figuratively. The result was an explosion and fire which brought death to one person, serious injuries to 23others and property loss amounting to $500,000.
The center of the emergency was the plant of the American Polymer Corp., a subsidiary of the American Resinous Corp., the parent organization, which latter factory, incidentally, was separated from its subsidiary by a 20-foot wide alley, used by both for shipping, receiving, etc.
The plant is located on Foster st., Peabody, in the heart of the leather and leather finishing district, a quarter of a mile from busy Peabody Square. The main building was of cement construction, two-stories in height, 160 x 40 ft. The main floor and part of the second were given over to processing of chemicals and resins. The office also occupied space on the second floor.
Shortly after 1:00 P.M.. an explosion occurred in the plant, which was described by casualties and survivors as resembling that of a small A-bomb. The blast was felt over a wide area. It broke windows and opened doors over half a mile away. The doors on fire headquarters building over a quarter of a mile distant, were literally blown open by the force of the explosion. Fire quickly followed to involve the plant.
According to company officials and workers on the job, the trouble centered in a 600-gal. acorn-shaped tank containing acetone and vinyl acetate, which was being distilled under pressure. The explosion was proceeded by a loud hissing noise and most employes nearby used this as a warning to make a break for the exits. Ollier attempted to shut down the kettle,
Photo by L. E. Martin, Jr.
George Lawson, 43, supervising operations on the second floor, was one of those who attempted to avert trouble by shutting off the kettle. He never made it and was caught in the blast and severely injured, later dying at J. B. Thomas Peabody Hospital. Practically every other person remaining in the room at the time of the explosion was severely injured and hospitalized. Edward Donovan, traffic manager of a nearby transportation company in the building (second floor) on business, was buried in the ruins by the blast, and found by firemen after being spotted by a photographer from an adjacent building. He remained in the wreckage over an hour-and-a-half while firemen and volunteers worked feverishly to extricate him. It was later reported that he would live.
The fire department was made aware of the blast when the main station’s doors flew open. Simultaneously, telephone alarms and Box 26 were received. The box was pulled by an off-duty fireman who happened to be passing the scene at the moment of the explosion.
Second and third alarms were shot in by Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Mulcahy and Chief of Department Arthur C. Flynn. The latter also ordered all available help from Danvers. Salem ami Beverley, Mass., under the mutual aid program in effect in the area. Chief Mulcahy was passing near the site when the blast occurred. This was severe enough nearly to cause him to lose control of his ear. It was also sufficient to impel him to check quickly and bang in the second alarm.
lire fighters, aware of the hazard posed by the blast and fire, quickly got heavy streams into action to prevent the fire from involving the main plant across the alley and other structures as well as storages of chemicals. Meanwhile firemen and police, aided by citizens and plant workers who had not been injured, conducted search of the ruins as rapidly as fire streams cooled them down in the hunt for casualties. As rapidly as the injured were located they were sped to hospitals by local and out-of-town ambulances. Seven of those injured were listed as critical.
About 2:00 P.M., a secondary explosion threatened fire fighters and further energized the flames. Firemen however refused to yield an inch and in about an hour were able to report the fire controlled. Search of the ruins for victims, and for lurking fire, was carried on for another four hours.
Small fires started by embers and sparks were all extinguished and all major exposures were successfully covered. Extra police held back the crowd of curious and attempted to hold the traffic lanes open for ambulances and fire rigs.
