Flames Spread Through Ventilation at Argentina Lumber Mill

Dust that collected over a two-week shutdown at a lumber mill in Concordia, Argentina, is the suspected cause of a fire Wednesday that broke out on a wood-based material production line.

Production was resuming at the EGGER lumber factory after several weeks shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the news website Diariojunio reports. The fire started in the production line machinery shortly after noon.

Lumber mill workers joined with local volunteer firefighters to battle the blaze, working nearly an hour to bring it under control.

The fire damaged electrical transport lines and a pine steam vapor traction system, Diariojunio reports. Three triphasic motors were also disabled.

Firefighters were forced to remove duct work to prevent captured sawdust from igniting and further spreading the flames.

Water is automatically circulated through the ducts by a detection system designed to prevent flames spreading through the ventilation.

Owned by an Austrian-based concern, the plant employs nearly 500 people.