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New Plymouth biodiesel plant catches fire; son of plant's owner reported missing and could be dead; Highway 30 reopens
Edition Date: 07-07-2006
UPDATED 5:17 p.m.
An explosion and fire today at Blue Sky Biodiesel in the Payette County town of New Plymouth likely led to the death of a worker and shut down Highway 30 through the city for over four hours, according to an Idaho State Police spokesman.
The portion of Highway 30 through New Plymouth which has been closed since noon is now reopened to traffic as emergency crews continue to work at the plant.
A worker at the plant, Blaise Black, 25, was welding on top of a large indoor tank containing soy oil just before noon when there was an explosion at that tank. Blaise Black, son of plant owner Rob Black, is unaccounted for and could be dead; a body near the explosion scene has been located but has yet to be identified, according to ISP reports.
The initial explosion was followed by another, at which point Rob Black ran into the area but had to back off because of the intense heat. The father sustained some second degree burns on his arms.
Co-worker Brian Olsen also ran over to the area but also had to back off; he suffered some minor smoke inhalation, according to ISP reports. Both were treated at the scene.
Emergency crews are currently looking for Blase Black in the wreckage and have found a body but have not yet identified it, according to reports.
The 25-year-old Black was a rodeo enthusiast who advanced to the semi-finals of the tie-down roping competition of the Caldwell Night Rodeo last summer. Blaise Black was also the 2005 Idaho Cowboys Association tie down roping champion.
Black attended Boise State and majored in social sciences during the rodeo off season.
The fire burned with such intensity much of the roof above the ruptured tank is now gone; fire crews have been working at the plant since around noon and most of the flames are out although they continue to pump water on the building, according to ISP officials.
There was some initial concern about the smoke from the fire being toxic, but when fire crews determined it was soy oil, that ceased to be a major concern.
About 15-to-20 homes and businesses near the plant were initially evacuated but they have since been allowed to return once fire crews determined the smoke was not toxic. A plume of smoke continues to hang over New Plymouth, however.
Some rail cars near the building full of soy oil have since been moved farther away to keep them away from the heat of the fire, according to reports.
Gov. Jim Risch and his wife, Vicki, stopped in New Plymouth around 5 p.m. to talk with firefighters and one of the owners of the biodiesel plant.
Gov. Risch said the state is ready to step in and help out the city, which had looked forward to the economic boost expected from the new plant.
Rish was in the area Friday handing out community development checks and his convoy was driving by on Interstate 84 when the fire was blazing at the plant.
Idaho State Police received a call for assistance from the Payette County Sheriff’s Office at 11:55 a.m.
Idaho State Police spokesman Rick Ohnsman said the ISP’s entire motorcycle team was dispatched earlier Friday to shut down Highway 30 into New Plymouth and control traffic in the city. A hazardous materials team has been sent to the site as well.
Blue Sky Biodiesel is located at 421 Industrial Way in New Plymouth.
Blue Sky Biodiesel takes soy and canola oil and combines it with ethanol to create a alternate diesel fuel.
Edition Date: 07-07-2006
UPDATED 5:17 p.m.
An explosion and fire today at Blue Sky Biodiesel in the Payette County town of New Plymouth likely led to the death of a worker and shut down Highway 30 through the city for over four hours, according to an Idaho State Police spokesman.
The portion of Highway 30 through New Plymouth which has been closed since noon is now reopened to traffic as emergency crews continue to work at the plant.
A worker at the plant, Blaise Black, 25, was welding on top of a large indoor tank containing soy oil just before noon when there was an explosion at that tank. Blaise Black, son of plant owner Rob Black, is unaccounted for and could be dead; a body near the explosion scene has been located but has yet to be identified, according to ISP reports.
The initial explosion was followed by another, at which point Rob Black ran into the area but had to back off because of the intense heat. The father sustained some second degree burns on his arms.
Co-worker Brian Olsen also ran over to the area but also had to back off; he suffered some minor smoke inhalation, according to ISP reports. Both were treated at the scene.
Emergency crews are currently looking for Blase Black in the wreckage and have found a body but have not yet identified it, according to reports.
The 25-year-old Black was a rodeo enthusiast who advanced to the semi-finals of the tie-down roping competition of the Caldwell Night Rodeo last summer. Blaise Black was also the 2005 Idaho Cowboys Association tie down roping champion.
Black attended Boise State and majored in social sciences during the rodeo off season.
The fire burned with such intensity much of the roof above the ruptured tank is now gone; fire crews have been working at the plant since around noon and most of the flames are out although they continue to pump water on the building, according to ISP officials.
There was some initial concern about the smoke from the fire being toxic, but when fire crews determined it was soy oil, that ceased to be a major concern.
About 15-to-20 homes and businesses near the plant were initially evacuated but they have since been allowed to return once fire crews determined the smoke was not toxic. A plume of smoke continues to hang over New Plymouth, however.
Some rail cars near the building full of soy oil have since been moved farther away to keep them away from the heat of the fire, according to reports.
Gov. Jim Risch and his wife, Vicki, stopped in New Plymouth around 5 p.m. to talk with firefighters and one of the owners of the biodiesel plant.
Gov. Risch said the state is ready to step in and help out the city, which had looked forward to the economic boost expected from the new plant.
Rish was in the area Friday handing out community development checks and his convoy was driving by on Interstate 84 when the fire was blazing at the plant.
Idaho State Police received a call for assistance from the Payette County Sheriff’s Office at 11:55 a.m.
Idaho State Police spokesman Rick Ohnsman said the ISP’s entire motorcycle team was dispatched earlier Friday to shut down Highway 30 into New Plymouth and control traffic in the city. A hazardous materials team has been sent to the site as well.
Blue Sky Biodiesel is located at 421 Industrial Way in New Plymouth.
Blue Sky Biodiesel takes soy and canola oil and combines it with ethanol to create a alternate diesel fuel.