State Agencies, National Guard on Alert After Chemical Tank Implosion Kills Multiple at Washington Mill
Why It Matters
A deadly industrial accident at a major paper and pulp facility in Longview, Washington has prompted a significant state emergency response, with multiple fatalities confirmed and workers still unaccounted for. The Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant employs roughly 1,000 people across its two operations, making it a cornerstone employer in the southwest Washington community along the Columbia River.
What Happened
A chemical storage tank holding white liquor — a solution used to convert wood chips into pulp — ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave facility early Tuesday morning, around 7:20 a.m. local time. The implosion killed multiple workers, with the exact death toll and the number of people still unaccounted for remaining unclear as emergency operations continued. At least one person was confirmed dead, with nine others initially reported missing in earlier updates from the scene.
Nine employees and one firefighter were reported injured. The Longview Fire Department stated that no immediate public threat exists from the incident. Gov. Bob Ferguson traveled to the scene Tuesday afternoon and placed National Guard teams on standby status in anticipation of potential resource needs such as evacuations or decontamination operations.
Teams from Washington’s Department of Ecology and Department of Labor and Industries were both deployed to the site as the emergency response unfolded.
The Facility
The Nippon Dynawave plant manufactures bleached packaging paperboard and pulp products, producing hundreds of thousands of tons annually. The pulp and paper mill employs approximately 550 workers, while the adjacent liquid packaging plant employs around 450. White liquor, the substance contained in the ruptured tank, is a chemical mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, and related compounds used in industrial pulp processing.
By the Numbers
- Approximately 1,000 total employees across the two plant operations
- 9 employees and 1 firefighter reported injured
- Multiple fatalities confirmed; exact toll pending
- $6,500 fine levied against the company by the Department of Ecology in 2024 for two permit violations
- Multiple workplace citations issued by Labor and Industries since 2021, unrelated to chemical process or storage safety
Regulatory History
The plant has faced prior scrutiny from state regulators. Labor and Industries has an existing inspection open at the facility tied to concerns about a valve on a separate tank, and another ongoing matter involves a sinkhole linked to a failed drain. The 2024 Ecology fine covered excess solid discharge in treated wastewater and an above-permit sulfur dioxide air release.
A fire at the plant in 2023 caused unhealthy air conditions in the Portland metro area. Investigators at the time concluded it was accidental but could not identify a definitive cause. The Labor and Industries department will open a formal investigation into Tuesday’s implosion once the immediate emergency response wraps up.
Community and Official Response
State Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, said he can see the mill from his home and spent years working there under a contract with his industrial cleaning company. “This hurts,” Wilson said. “The reason it hurts so much is because you see these people every day.” He said he stands ready to connect residents with support and resources as the community processes the tragedy.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray described the implosion as “an absolute tragedy” and pledged to support the Longview community throughout the recovery. Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, whose district includes the plant, called for patience as investigators complete their work to determine the cause.
Nippon Dynawave has partnered with the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers union to open a family assistance center at the union hall in Longview, where updates and support are being made available to affected families. A community prayer vigil was scheduled for Tuesday evening at R.A. Long Park.
What’s Next
State emergency management officials said they remain in close coordination with local authorities and are prepared to deploy additional resources as needed. The Department of Labor and Industries will lead a formal investigation into the cause of the implosion following the conclusion of emergency operations. This remains a developing story.
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