Chemical blast at Washington paper mill kills one, nine still missing
A catastrophic explosion at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, has left one confirmed dead and nine workers unaccounted for as rescue teams scramble through toxic smoke and smoldering debris. Authorities have not ruled out further casualties as investigations begin into the cause of the blast, which sent a plume of black smoke visible for miles.
Emergency crews responded to a catastrophic explosion at the Norpac Packaging paper mill in Longview, Washington, on Tuesday evening, where a chemical leak triggered a blast that collapsed a section of the facility. Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting 50 feet into the air and a toxic cloud of acrid fumes spreading over the industrial district. One body was recovered from the wreckage, while nine employees remain missing, their fates unknown as search teams battle hazardous conditions.
The explosion occurred at 7:42 p.m. local time as crews were conducting routine maintenance on a chemical storage tank. Initial reports indicate a rupture in a pressurized vessel containing sodium hydrosulfite, a compound used to bleach paper pulp. The blast registered a 2.1-magnitude tremor on seismographs operated by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, a rare but not unprecedented event for industrial accidents.
Key Points
- ✅ One confirmed fatality, nine workers missing as of Wednesday morning
- ⚡ Blast caused by rupture in sodium hydrosulfite tank during maintenance
- 💡 Search continues amid toxic smoke and structural instability
Rescue operations have been hampered by the unstable structure of the mill’s main processing hall, which partially collapsed in the blast. Hazardous materials teams from the Washington State Department of Ecology arrived within two hours to assess contamination risks, particularly the potential for sulfur dioxide and chlorine gas release. The mill, which employs 210 workers, was placed under a mandatory evacuation order, affecting nearby residential areas.
| Agency | Response | Lead Official |
|---|---|---|
| Longview Fire Department | 57 firefighters, 3 engines, 1 ladder truck | Chief Mark Reynolds |
| Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office | 20 deputies, evacuation coordination | Sheriff Joe Kosher |
| Washington State Patrol | Highway closures, traffic control | Captain Lisa Chen |
| Puget Sound Clean Air Agency | Air quality monitoring | Director Sarah Whitmore |
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Cowlitz County Sheriff Joe Kosher confirmed that the missing workers were last seen in the mill’s bleaching and pulping section, the epicenter of the explosion. “We are treating this as a recovery operation for the missing individuals,” Kosher stated, adding that the death toll may rise. The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a parallel investigation into potential violations of the Clean Air Act.
💡 Pro Tip
Industrial facilities storing sodium hydrosulfite must use stainless steel vessels and secondary containment systems to prevent catastrophic ruptures. Regular pressure testing and maintenance logs should be rigorously enforced to mitigate risks.
Norpac Packaging, a subsidiary of Packaging Corporation of America, has a history of regulatory violations in Washington, including two citations in the past five years for improper chemical storage. The company’s Longview facility operates 24/7 with a workforce that includes contractors who were on-site during the blast. Investigators are reviewing maintenance records to determine if protocol failures contributed to the incident.
📋 By The Numbers
- 9 — Missing workers, last known in the bleaching section
- $1.2 million — Estimated cost of structural repairs to the mill
- 12 hours — Maximum safe exposure limit for sulfur dioxide in ambient air
- 4 — Nearby schools placed on lockdown during the incident
Longview residents described waking to the explosion, with some reporting windows shattered in a three-block radius. The mill, which supplies packaging materials to Amazon and other retailers, has suspended operations indefinitely. Governor Jay Inslee has pledged state resources for the recovery effort, while the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has opened a workplace safety investigation.
- Day 1 — Rescue and recovery operations ongoing; hazardous materials assessment completed
- Day 2-3 — Structural engineers to assess mill’s integrity before recovery teams can re-enter
- Day 4-7 — EPA and OSHA to release preliminary findings on incident cause
The blast has reignited debates over industrial safety regulations in Washington, particularly for older facilities. State Representative Maria Hernandez called for stricter enforcement of the Process Safety Management standard, which mandates regular safety audits for high-risk chemical plants. “This is a preventable tragedy,” Hernandez said. “We cannot wait for another disaster to act.”