A preliminary investigation by the Plum Creek Timber Co. has found that a “catastrophic bearing failure” on a raw material belt line caused Tuesday’s explosion at the company’s Columbia Falls’ medium density fiberboard plant, company officials tell the Beacon.
According to spokesperson Kate Tate, the bearing failure on the belt line ignited raw wood fibers and the belt itself. The fire then spread to insulation on a duct pipe above the line, which ignited wood fibers inside the pipe and caused a series of explosions. Tate said company officials would continue the investigation next week.
“All of this information will be used to prevent future incidents like this,” Tate said.
More than a dozen emergency agencies from around the Flathead Valley responded to the explosion that occurred shortly after 3 p.m. June 10. Initial reports said that more than 50 people were missing but all of the workers were later accounted for. No injuries were reported.
This week, the 183 people who work in the fiberboard plant returned to the site of this week’s explosion to begin the cleanup process. Tate said the company expects the fiberboard plant to be closed for at least 30 days.