Dyno Nobel lost a Saratoga Springs, Utah, administration and lab building to fire June 8. The 4,000-square-foot structure was unoccupied since the fire started after working hours, and no one was injured.
Crews from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department arrived at approximately 2 a.m. and stayed on scene throughout the day, putting out hot spots and monitoring the building. Support was provided by fire departments from nearby Lone Peak, Eagle Mountain, Lehi, Goshen, and Cedar Fort. They also called in hazmat teams from Provo and Orem to monitor the air quality because of a concern that there was the potential for toxic smoke from the ammonium nitrate stored in the area.
Fire Chief Tim Hay told Green Markets that there was some ammonium nitrate in the building itself. “I can’t tell you the exact amount. There was only a few grams of actual explosives (dynamite) used for testing purposes in the building,” Hay reported. He said the fire was contained to the one building.
The closest residents, who live about a mile away, were told to stay inside and shut windows as a precaution.
The firefighters determined it safer to allow the fire to burn itself out and burn up the materials rather than fight it. “When you go to put it out, then you get your personnel closer to the hazardous materials and you endanger them. And a lot of times it’s better for the hazardous materials just to burn up; you get rid of those, and it’s just safer,” Hay told the local press.
There was no indication that explosives were involved.
The research center is one of four Dyno Nobel technology research facilities in the U.S. and Australia developing technologies for use in present and future explosive systems. “At this time, the cause of the fire is under investigation and the cost of the loss of the building is being assessed,” said Brian Wallace, Dyno Nobel Americas president. “We expect that there will be minimal impact to our customers.”