Posted at: 07/17/2009 9:04 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 07/17/2009 11:43 AM
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Explosion, small fire at Livingston County chemical plant
Early this morning,emergency crews responded to an explosion and small fire at the Arkema Chemical Plant. It happened around 5:30 a.m. in Piffard which is northwest of Geneseo.
There were no injuries, all employees are accounted for and the fire is now out.
Plant Manager Timothy Rens said the amount of organic peroxide involved was small and the fire was extinguished by automated systems and from support of the plant's fire brigade. The local fire department was put on standby alert but their help was not needed.
Rens said the incident occurred as the material was being treated in a chill cabinet and the damage was confined to this limited area.
The cause of the explosion is not known at this time and a thorough investigation is already underway.
The Geneseo facility has a long history in the safe manufacturing and handling of these materials.
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