Suisun City, Calif.-Investigators have traced a devastating fire Sept. 22 at the EB Stone & Son organic fertilizer complex to spontaneous combustion in a storage pile of manure and other compost. The resulting fire was spread by wind and high temperatures. Smoke continued to rise over the weekend from the 20-acre site, where flames destroyed manufacturing and bagging facilities, a chemical warehouse, and offices; caused evacuation of 13 nearby businesses and three homes; and closed a road for three days, Capt. Dan Schindler of the Montezuma Fire District told Green Markets. He said the concern was about a possible explosion of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse, along with propane and diesel in storage tanks. “After we learned about the chemicals we pulled out our crews and let it burn,” the fire captain said. Schindler, who estimated the loss at $6 million, said control was turned back last Monday to the owners, who were reluctant to talk about any of the details. EB Stone Manager Scott Todd said the company is working to get back in business. “Our phone lines are operating and our suppliers are responding (to our situation).” Todd said some packers are qualified to manufacture products, so shipping is continuing uninterrupted. He declined to talk about the contents of the building, where Schindler said 90 tons of ammonium nitrate, 60 tons of aluminum sulfate, and other seven or eight other chemicals were warehoused.
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