| Rocket fire stops processing at Umatilla Disposal Facility By the East Oregonian HERMISTON -- Rocket processing at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility stopped Friday morning following a rocket fire in one of the facility's two remotely operated Explosive Containment Rooms. The fire occurred at 10:38 a.m. during normal M55 rocket processing. The sarin nerve agent had already been drained from the rocket, which was being sheared into pieces when the fire ignited. That's the same situation that occurred during a rocket fire Dec. 7 and during three other fires last spring. "Our plant and personnel response to the event was consistent with our procedures," said Project General Manager Doug Hamrick. "Equipment operated normally, and there appears to be little, if any, damage." Hamrick described the event as more of a flash than a sustained fire. The fire suppression system in the Explosive Containment Room functioned as designed, activating the water deluge system. A recovery and repair plan has been implemented and an initial damage assessment is under way. "This fire appears to be similar to the others we've experienced at Umatilla," said Army Site Project Manager Don Barclay. "Although all the research done to date has not specifically pinpointed a root cause, the Army Chemical Materials Agency continues to actively investigate the cause." The investigation after the fires last spring concluded the aging fuel in the rocket motors was a likely cause of the fires, which ignited as the shear blade moved through that area of the rockets. But the study was not conclusive. Rocket processing was expected to resume in the second Explosive Containment Room before the end of the day Friday. There was no projection Friday afternoon on when processing will resume in the room where the fire occurred. |
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