3 hurt, 1 critically in Carroll County greenhouse blast traced to industrial boiler
Three employees were injured — one critically — in a thermal explosion Friday evening at a warehouse in Carroll County, according to fire officials.
The explosion happened just after 5 p.m. at Catoctin Mountain Growers Inc. in Keymar and caused a partial structural collapse, sending debris flying several hundred feet, Carroll County Fire and EMS Chief Michael Robinson said.
"Our first objective was life safety to make sure that everybody was out of the building," Robinson told WJZ.
When first responders arrived, they found three employees suffering from burns of varying severity. One victim was found semi-conscious near the area of the explosion, Robinson said.
Robinson said the victims' burns were likely caused by steam. All three injured employees were taken to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center. One of them was in critical condition, officials said.
About 20 employees were working in that section of the warehouse at the time of the explosion, and all were able to evacuate, officials confirmed.
Industrial-sized boiler caused the explosion
Investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshall confirmed the blast originated from an industrial-sized boiler, spilling all of its contents of 180-degree water.
"Whatever did occur was enough explosive force to structurally destroy a portion of the building as well as some adjacent things," Robinson explained. "So, we're very fortunate that we did not have more victims."
The warehouse is part of Catoctin Mountain Growers Inc., a company that grows plants for major retailers, including Target and Walmart, along the East Coast.
Robinson said the building also contained industrial-strength fertilizer, prompting a large-scale hazardous materials response.
"We got mutual aid from Frederick County, we activated their collapse team and our own hazardous materials team along with the Maryland Department of Environment," Robinson said.
Officials said some fertilizer spilled into a nearby creek, and hazmat crews are working to limit environmental impacts.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the explosion.