What happened in Rockmart?
Initial findings point to dust as culprint in Rockmart plant explosion
Investigators are pointing to dust as the cause of an explosion at the JCG Farms Feed Mill in Rockmart following the release of initial findings by the local, state and federal officials early in the week.
Flags were lowered to half staff above the plant to honor Justin Deems, who was killed in the explosion in the early morning hours of of Sunday, Feb. 7. Loved ones and friends gathered to honor Deems during funeral services held on Friday, Feb. 12.
Rockmart firefighters, state fire marshal’s investigators and agents from the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms worked at the site all week to determine what caused the explosion that killed Deems and injured five others.
Their initial findings found the culprit to be built up dust within the plant, which was set off in a series of explosions according to a press release from the combined agencies.
“The area of origin was at the base of a concrete tower near the receiving area,” the release stated. “The exact cause has not been determined.”
The release stated that though no criminal activity is believed to have been involved, the investigation
will continue forward in the weeks to come as they track down the exact cause of events.
Rockmart Fire Chief Todd Queen earlier said it would likely take weeks, maybe months, to get a complete picture of what happened.
To help complete that picture, the ATF has sent several agents to help.
Nero Priester, a senior special agent for the ATF and the public information officer for the Atlanta Field Division, said 20 agents are on scene from the agency’s National Response Team.
The team will help generate what is called a Cause of Origin report, and will initially try to find any evidence of intentional sparking of the plant explosion.
“Primarily what we try to do is rule out unnatural causes first, anything like arson or the use of an explosive device,” Priester said in an earlier interview. “Once we rule out those things, we start to look for the accidental causes.”
Queen earlier said two problems were hindering efforts: the cold and wintry weather, and not being able to move freely inside the plant with what he called “significant damage.”
He said several areas inside the plant are dangerous because of the damage caused by the explosion, including one building that suffered a complete collapse.
Queen said Monday that one employee injured in the blast was still at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, but he did not have an immediate update on their condition. Another employee who was transported to Kennestone Hospital in Marietta was later released, Queen said.