Abbotsford (With files from KAM Producitons/Kevin MacDonald) -SEPTEMBER 13 UPDATE – Media Release: At 12:50 pm on September 12th Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service responded to a report of a dust collection hopper fire at 2320 Peardonville Road.
Upon arrival AFRS teams found smoke coming from a large dust collection hopper with no fire extension to the building.
AFRS teams worked to contain the fire to the hopper and while working on extinguishment a dust explosion occurred.
A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air, often but not always in an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high enough concentrations in the atmosphere or other oxidizing gaseous medium such as oxygen. Total estimate of damages is unknown at this time. The dust hopper sustained significant damage.
One firefighter sustained a minor ankle injury at this incident and is expected to be fine. BC Hydro, Fortis Gas, Abbotsford Police and BC Ambulance also attended on scene.
The cause of the fire is believed to have started from a spark created in the woodworking process.
SEPTEMBER 12 ORIGINAL STORY – The 1991 movie, Ron Howard directed “Backdraft” starring Kurt Russell, brought the real life horror of every firefighter’s nightmare come to the big screen.
On Monday Afternoon around 1PM (September 12), it happened in real life for Abbotsford Firefighters.
No one was hurt after a large dust explosion surprised firefighters battling a blaze at an industrial building (Woodworks Furniture Factory) on Peardonville Road in West Abbotsford.
Flames ignited dust in a hopper.
KAM Productions via Kevin MacDonald captured the explosion on video.
