Explosion at paper mill in Jay, Maine; several injuries reported

It's funny, I remember doing some papermill where the drivers were all mandated to be out of their trucks while loading. We had to sit in a small cinderblock room about 20'x6'. There were pictures on the wall of all the accidents the place had had, including one trailer that had folded in half at the middle.
About 10 drivers and 7 crappy broken old chairs that looked like they were looted from a grade school after a disaster. I sat on the floor. It looked more comfortable.

And as I waited there for 4 hours under that oppressive buzzing florescent light I thought to myself, "there has to be nicer jail cells than this." Rookie year.

 

Dragging around a van trailer, I hated going to paper mills. Maybe it's because I worked in one for a while? But we never pulped raw materials, it was mostly recycled cardboard and rags. Abitibi (sp?) used to smell awful and you always knew when you were within 10mi of their facilities.

 

Sounds / smells like the plant in Orono.

Wet skunk anyone?

 

Local News - April 21, 2020 - Star 97.7

Jay Plant Reopening on Hold

(Jay) Pixelle Specialty Solutions says timing for reopening of the Pixelle Paper Mill in Jay is up in the air at this time. An explosion at the mill last Wednesday caused extensive damage, and officials say it will take a significant period before the mill is able to again produce pulp. 500 people are employed by the plant. The mill is looking at options to resume paper machine operations, as that equipment was not damaged in the explosion. Investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing.

 

We are still going there on a very limited basis. Bringing sulfuric acid to wastewater, and a few things to the 4&5 hatchway, and that’s about it for now. I was there on Monday and the pictures don’t do it any justice. The damage is significant and there is still pulp debris on Riley road leading up to the mill. My gut tells me this mill is doomed. I hope that I’m wrong

 

Mill is up an running again. The Sappi Somerset mill is sending pulp up there. ND paper in Rumford is suppose to be supplying some pulp soon too. I did hear that a new digester can cost around $100 Million!

 

And they’re bringing in pulp from their mills out of state, which I can’t imagine is very cost effective. Unfortunately, until they start producing their own pulp again, we won’t be bringing much product there.