NEWBURYPORT, MASS. (WHDH) - A chemical reaction is to blame for a series of explosions that rocked PCI Synthesis in Newburyport early Thursday morning, fire officials said.
Firefighters responding to an alarm at the chemical manufacturing facility at 9 Opportunity Way around 4:15 a.m. found heavy, black smoke before retreating from the building, according to Newburyport Deputy Fire Chief Steve Bradbury. PCI workers were then evacuated.
Once outside, crews heard three explosions and about 10 to 15 minutes later, they heard three more explosions, Bradbury added. The explosions left a 5-foot by 8-foot hole in the roof.
Investigators determined that the blasts were caused by a sampling procedure of a product from a large vat, the Department of Fire Services said.
There were no reported injuries and the company has since reopened.
In a statement, PCI Synthesis said, “The incident didn’t lead to any release of hazardous material or adverse environmental substances to the air or ground; everything was contained within the building as designed. The incident took place in one isolated 800 square foot production suite, which did not suffer any structural or significant equipment damage. Safety systems worked properly and prevented additional consequences as a result of the initial incident. Most of the facility was untouched and is completely operational, and we have reopened for business. We are grateful to the authorities for their support and quick work in ensuring the facility is safe so that we can get back to work.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is assisting with an investigation.
In June 2019, OSHA fined PCI Synthesis $86,266 for eight serious violations for “process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals.”
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