A massive industrial disaster unfolded in Southwest Washington on Tuesday morning after a giant chemical storage tank collapsed at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview. The implosion triggered a catastrophic failure, releasing a torrential wave of highly corrosive chemicals that left multiple workers severely injured and emergency crews rushing to contain the site.
Regional hazardous materials teams and the Longview Fire Department immediately responded to the paper mill following the morning rupture. First responders describe the incident as a localized but highly dangerous industrial emergency.
Severe Chemical Burns and Life-Threatening Injuries
The sudden structural failure of the tank caused immediate, severe trauma to nearby employees. According to fire officials, the primary wave of injuries was caused by direct contact with the toxic payload.
The disaster resulted in significant casualties and emergency transports:
- Multiple Critical Injuries: Several victims suffered deep chemical burns, respiratory issues, and impact injuries from the force of the structural collapse.
- Massive Emergency Response: Ambulances rushed patients to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, while the most critically injured were transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for specialized burn treatment.
- Emergency Responders Impacted: A responding firefighter was also among those injured during the early hours of the rescue and containment operation.
What is “White Liquor”?
The crisis was triggered by the failure of a massive supply tank containing hundreds of thousands of gallons of white liquor. In the paper manufacturing industry, white liquor is a highly caustic, heavily alkaline chemical solution consisting primarily of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide.
The fluid is heated and used under intense pressure to dissolve the bonds in wood chips, breaking them down into liquid pulp to produce paperboard. Because of its extremely high pH, the substance acts like a heavy acid upon contact with human tissue, melting through clothing and causing instantaneous, severe chemical burns to the skin and eyes, as well as toxic inhalation risks if vaporized.
Environmental Containment Underway
While the immediate threat of fire has been managed, local, state, and federal environmental agencies have mobilized an all-day containment operation. The toxic runoff from the ruptured tank breached the facility’s immediate drainage systems, with testing confirming that some of the corrosive chemical mixture managed to spill into the nearby Columbia River.
Longview Fire Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch assured the public that there is no immediate airborne threat or chemical risk to the city’s residential drinking water supply or surrounding neighborhoods. However, authorities are urging citizens to completely stay away from the industrial site on Industrial Way to allow heavy machinery, investigators, and hazardous material vacuums to clear the toxic debris.
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