A Tuesday morning chemical blast tore through the Nippon Dynawave mill in Longview, injuring several workers and triggering a massive emergency response across the city’s industrial core. Fire crews and hazardous-materials teams flooded the area as authorities quickly shut down Industrial Way and nearby access points. Neighbors watched a steady stream of emergency vehicles race into the corridor while responders worked to secure the scene and care for the injured.
According to FOX 13 Seattle, the Longview Fire Department said the explosion hit around 7:30 a.m. and created an ongoing hazard inside the facility. The outlet reported “multiple” injuries, although officials did not immediately release how many people were hurt or how serious their conditions were. Early details came through alerts from the Longview Fire Department and emergency dispatchers.
Response On The Ground
Firefighters and hazmat teams remained on site working to stabilize the plant and head off any potential secondary blasts, according to OPB. Officials locked down the immediate area and urged the public to steer clear of Industrial Way while rescue efforts and cleanup continued. Longview police and county crews blocked entrances to the industrial corridor as specialists evaluated both structural damage and chemical hazards.
What The Plant Does
Nippon Dynawave runs a kraft pulp and liquid-packaging paperboard mill at 3401 Industrial Way in Longview, according to the Washington Department of Ecology. The agency lists the operation as producing bleached liquid packaging board and operating pulping, coating and extrusion lines, along with a wastewater treatment system that also serves several nearby industrial partners. The facility has historically employed hundreds of workers across its pulp and packaging units.
What Officials Aren't Saying
Authorities have not yet disclosed which chemical or mix of chemicals triggered the blast, and they still have not provided a firm tally of the injured, local coverage noted. FOX 12 Oregon reported that hospitals in the region were warned to prepare for incoming patients while investigators and hazmat specialists continued sampling and testing at the site. Conditions remained fluid late Tuesday as crews worked through the damage and evaluated any contamination risk.
City officials urged residents to stay away from Industrial Way and said more information would be released as it becomes available, according to the Longview Fire Department and local media reports. This story will be updated as agencies, hospitals and company representatives provide additional details about the victims and what set off the blast.
