Explosion rocks manufacturing building
ELVERSON >> A borough manufacturer was rattled by an explosion and fire on Aug. 7 at Vixen Hill manufacturers at Hall and Main streets.
No injuries were reported.
An explosion rocked one building of the manufacturer of gazebos, shutters and decks at about 1:30 p.m.
The walls and windows of one building were blown out as a result of the blast which could be felt for blocks away.
“I was in my garage and thought it was thunder,” said Elverson resident Chris Bolich. “So I walked down to see what it was.”
As firefighters used water and foam to control the blaze owner Chris Peeples stood back and made sure all his employees were okay.
“I was inside and heard a loud boom as the dust explosion went throughout the building,” he said. “Saw dust inside the bag house ignited. Dust from sanding is drawn into there, it like a big shop vac.”
Employees attempted to contain the fire using extinguishers, however they retreated to safety and removed a number of propane tanks in the building.
“The fire was located in the dust collector,” said Jason Brooks, chief of the Twin Valley Fire Company. “We also had fire from the top of the tower.”
Brooks said no firefighters were injured in the blaze. Units from across Chester and Lancaster counties responded to the blaze, including Twin Valley, Honey Brook, Ludwig’s Corner, Glen Moore, Minquas, Churchtown, White Horse as well as Elverson-Honeybrook EMS.
“The fire on the tower started as an ember from the explosion went up and sat there,” said Peeples. “If we had had a garden hose we could have put that out.”
“My concern was I didn’t want it to get into the main building,” Peeples said.
Though the fire destroyed just one building of the complex, Peeples said he was uncertain when he would be able to reopen.
“We can’t sand, we can’t cut without a dust collection system,” Peeples said. “It also took out our phones.”
The cause is under investigation by Chester County Fire Marshals office.