|
|
|
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2010 | Updated 0 hours, 9 minutes ago
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
4/11/2005 | 1 comment  | Email this article • Print this article • Comment on this article | Cause of Depot incident unknown
By ANDREW BINION
of the East Oregonian
HERMISTON — An investigation into why a rocket at the Umatilla Chemical Depot caught fire last Thursday while being chopped up for incineration yielded no answers, Washington Group Spokesman Rick Kelley said Monday.
Investigators finished their inquiry Sunday, said Kelley, who noted the equipment in the area where the rocket caught fire worked properly.
Workers spent about 30 minutes masked, but there were no injuries and incineration is expected to resume later today.
The fire occurred inside a room with reinforced walls built to withstand fires and explosions, called the explosive containment room.
“If something is going to happen, we know it’s going to happen inside that room,” Kelley said.
The room is where rockets are drained of sarin agent and chopped into pieces, then dropped down a chute for incineration.
The fire occurred after the fifth of seven cuts into the rocket, which was a cut through the motor section of the rocket, Kelley said. The fire, which started at about 5:05 p.m. last Thursday, burned for about 12 minutes.
A total of 245 rockets had been destroyed the day of the fire.
The walls in the room are made from 30 inches of reinforced concrete and are fitted with blast shields, said Depot spokeswoman Mary Binder.
“That is why this room is called the explosive containment room,” she said.
|
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Article comment by:
whitney hokanson
I think that they should investigate in tell they get an awnser why.
|
We'd like to hear from you
|
|
|
|
|
|
