VIDEO: Responders Roll to Hazmat Situation at Bowling Ball Factory

The City of Jennings, Missouri declared a State of Emergency on Thursday, October 28, when a fire at an abandoned bowling ball factory created an “extremely complex and large-scale fire and hazmat situation” for local responders. A shelter-in-place order was issued for the city school district. It was lifted later that day.

Most recently, the building housed a bowling ball manufacturer and was used as storage for a film manufacturer.  The city took possession of the abandoned warehouse in 2018, but reportedly did not take an inventory of chemicals stored in drums in the basement.

Because chemicals of some kind were stored in the burning warehouse, firefighters stayed outside while working to put out the fire. The fire re-ignited on Friday and was re-extinguished. Crews later learned that resins, urethanes, and polyesters were among the chemicals stored on site, according to KMOV4 News. 

As of Tuesday, November 2, the city is working to initiate a cleanup effort. 
 

Importance of Chemical Inventories

Industrial facilities that store large amounts of hazardous chemicals may be required to track and report their chemical inventories, share information with local responders, and comply with emergency planning requirements under EPCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Air Act, OSHA HAZWOPER, and other regulatory programs.

Accurate information about the type and quantity of hazardous materials on scene during an incident is crucial for first responders. The hazards of the chemicals involved in a fire or release can dramatically change how a response proceeds and how responders protect themselves.

Tags: chemical inventory, chemicals, emergency response, EPCRA, hazardous materials