Full press conference: Latest updates from officials on deadly Longview paper mill implosion

[0:08] Good evening, everyone. David Mulca with you on this Tuesday. If you are just joining us, [0:12] we're continuing to follow breaking news and tragedy in Longview, where a chemical tank [0:16] imploded this morning at a pulp and paper mail drone video showing the damage at the Nippon [0:21] DynaWave packaging facility along the Columbia. This evening, nine people remain unaccounted for, [0:27] nine people injured, with one person, a father and grandfather confirmed dead. We expect to hear [0:33] from the governor and other officials in the next few minutes. While we wait for them, [0:37] let's catch you up here. Authorities say the tank held about 900,000 gallons. That's more than one [0:41] Olympic-sized swimming pool of a chemical they describe as highly caustic. I understand the [0:47] governor is getting underway here. Let's listen in. Fire chief with Kalitz II Fire Rescue. First and [0:53] foremost, our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, co-workers, and everyone impacted [1:00] by today's tragic events. I want to provide an incident overview. At approximately 7.15 this [1:07] morning, the emergency responders were dispatched to the Nippon DynaWave packaging following the [1:14] rupture of a tank containing white liqueur. That is a chemical utilized in the paper making process. [1:21] Due to the scale of the incident, agencies throughout the region responded immediately and continued [1:28] coordinated operations on site. This is a large unified response involving the Longview Fire [1:35] Department, Calitz II Fire Rescue, law enforcement, hazardous materials, medics, ambulance personnel, [1:44] state agencies, facility personnel, and many additional partners, many of which are behind [1:50] me here, along with our political team. Incidents of this magnitude require extensive coordination, [1:58] and that coordination remains ongoing. We stated this earlier this morning, and I want to reiterate [2:05] it here now. At this time, we state there is no direct threat to the surrounding community. [2:12] Again, there is no threat to the surrounding community. Operational challenges. The recovery [2:20] and stabilization efforts remain extremely complex due to the ongoing hazards. Earlier this morning, [2:29] I mentioned that there was a roughly 80,000 gallon tank. That information has been modified and it [2:36] is now approximately a 900,000 gallon tank of that white liqueur process. After evaluations midday, [2:49] we believe that there could be a potential of 90,000 gallons remaining in that tank. The tank remains [2:58] unstable, creating a dangerous situation for our personnel, which has created our additional planning. [3:07] Crews are actively assessing the structural integrity of that tank and working on plans to stabilize that tank [3:16] before additional recovery operations can safely proceed. Those are the situations and limitations that [3:26] impact our access to the portions of the facility. Now I'm going to turn this over to Battalion Chief [3:31] Matt Amos with the Longview Fire Department. Hello, everyone. Good evening. Thanks for being here. [3:40] My name is Matt Amos, M-A-T-T-A-M-O-S. I'm the Battalion Chief for the Longview Fire Department. [3:48] I have some updates on victim information. Today's incident resulted in multiple critical injuries and [3:56] fatalities. Emergency responders have confirmed that 10 individuals were transported to area hospitals. [4:03] Eight were employee injuries, one was a firefighter injury, and we have one fatality. Officials can [4:11] also confirm that there's currently nine employees who remain unaccounted for. The recovery operations, [4:19] they remain focused on safely accessing all affected areas of the facility, recovering victims, [4:26] and supporting impacted families while ensuring responder safety. Due to the instability of the site, [4:34] some areas remain inaccessible at this time. All impacted families have been noted, notified as [4:41] of a couple hours ago. Responder safety, one firefighter sustained injuries during the response [4:48] operations and has since been treated and released. Safety remains a top priority for everyone operating [4:55] at this scene. The current operations, numerous local, regional, and state agencies continue coordinating [5:02] response and recovery efforts alongside facility personnel. Due to ongoing safety concerns, recovery [5:11] efforts will resume tomorrow once conditions allow crews to safely continue operations. In closing, [5:19] this has been an incredibly difficult day for our community and for everyone involved. We appreciate the [5:25] professionalism and dedication of the responders working this incident under very challenging conditions. [5:31] We also appreciate the patience and support of the community as operations continue. We ask that [5:37] the public continue to stay clear of the area, including the surrounding dikes and ditches from [5:43] Prudential Boulevard to Washington Way. We will have updates tomorrow by 10 a.m. March 27th. At this time, [5:52] I'd like to transition to Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson. Thank you very much and thank you all for [6:01] being here. It's difficult to always to find the words at a time like this and as you've heard already [6:07] from previous speakers, our thoughts and our prayers are with everybody impacted by this tragedy. So on [6:14] behalf of the people of the state of Washington, I want all those individuals to know that we stand with [6:19] you. We'll be here to do everything we can to help with the situation and we'll be here as long as it takes. [6:25] We also deeply appreciate the first responders and their tremendous work that they're doing and have been [6:31] doing to deal with an extremely, extremely challenging situation. The main thing I want to emphasize is [6:38] how much I appreciate and I want the public to know the extensive coordination that's going on at all [6:44] levels of government with many partners, local, state, federal, and many other partners. We just came [6:48] from very lengthy briefing and conversation from those partners. We were in a room together having a [6:53] conversation which is deeply helpful for me. I want to share a few things that we're doing at the state [6:58] level to assist with that cooperation. But again, I want the public to know everybody's working very [7:02] hard together in full cooperation which will help us get through this challenging time. So the state [7:09] has mobilized to help. Our Emergency Management Division has been in constant contact with local [7:14] responders and offering support. We've mobilized the Washington National Guard Civil Support Team, [7:22] which is now on site. They will assist, for example, the Department of Ecology with air monitoring. [7:29] I've also directed the National Guard Homeland Response Force to be on site. This team can assist with [7:37] search and recovery in a contaminated environment as well as mass decontamination. The Department of [7:42] Ecology and Labor and Industries are also on site. The Department of Ecology is monitoring water quality [7:50] and LNI is ready to begin investigating after the first responders finish their very, very important [7:55] work. The Department of Health is assisting with emergency medical logistics. I have leadership from [8:01] all those divisions who are here today join us in these conversations to make sure we're doing [8:06] everything we can as a state to support the important work that's going on here and being here for [8:10] folks as they go through this extremely challenging situation. We will, of course, continue to monitor the [8:16] situation and offer resources and support. I deeply appreciate all the cooperation. The state stands [8:23] ready to continue that level of support. One of those key partners is, of course, our federal government. [8:28] I deeply appreciate Senator Patty Murray being here and along with the Congresswoman making sure the [8:35] federal government is a partner as they've been all along. And so I want to turn over now to our U.S. Senator Patty Murray. [8:43] Governor, thank you very much. And first of all, I just want to express my thoughts, [8:49] my prayers to all the victims, the survivors, the neighbors, the friends of everyone who's been impacted [8:56] today. This is an amazing community of hardworking people and a tragedy like this affects absolutely [9:03] everybody. And I want you to know I am thinking of all of you and I'm here for you in any way that you [9:10] need. Secondly, my gratitude to all of the first responders who have been on the scene since early [9:16] this morning in a very dangerous situation, who are giving up their personal lives and commitment to [9:22] make sure this community is safe. And thank you to each and every one of you who are doing that as well [9:27] today. I want you all to know I'm in very close touch with the community leaders and the state leaders [9:33] to make sure we are bringing forward any federal responders that we can to help in any way we can [9:40] including today EPA and Coast Guard that are here now and more that stand ready to be helpful in any [9:47] way that we can. I know there's a lot of questions about how all of this happened and I want to assure [9:54] you that we will all continue to pressure to get answers to those questions. This community deserves that. [10:00] So again, on behalf of all, everyone here, I want to thank this community for being who you always [10:07] have been, caretakers of each other. That's what this is going to require for many days to come [10:13] and we are your partners and at your side. With that, let me introduce to you your representative, [10:19] Congresswoman Marie Glusenkamp-Perez, who's been here, knows many of the people have been impacted. [10:25] Thank you for being my partner. Thank you, Senator. Our first responders and our emergency room [10:37] workers, our nurses and many people here have seen truly unthinkable horrors today and so as we pursue [10:45] the dual imperative of getting answers, I'm profoundly encouraged by how many people are checking in [10:52] on each other. These are tough people. These are strong people and underneath that requires the strength to [11:03] ask how you're doing. Check in. Bring a casserole by. The neighborliness is what is going to bear out the [11:11] strength to get the answers that we need here and to rebuild and protect our lives and our land and our [11:21] community. It is unthinkable tragedy here today and I think at the heart of all that we know and all we [11:34] don't know is the knowledge of the goodness of people here and that would lean on that. That's where [11:44] accountability, that's where answers come from, that's where the strength rebuild and I'm encouraged [11:49] by the people I've seen here today. The electeds, our first responders, our folks from the INE. I'm profoundly [12:01] encouraged and it's going to take all of us to rebuild and get these answers and with that I'll turn [12:08] it over to Senator Wilson who's a nearby resident as well as our state senator here. What occurred here [12:23] today is going to show a test of our community? We're family. In fact, I have family that works here on this [12:31] site. But because of my knowledge of the local community, I am confident that the team here, the [12:38] operators on the site are going to put together the necessary means through the recovery and the [12:45] remediation aspect of this tragedy. And for those that live here in this community, we know each other and [12:55] it is time to reflect on that. But to also be patient if you can. The process is going to take [13:04] some time. The answers will be directed. But again, I think we're going to get through this. Meantime, [13:12] prayers, kind words and let's let's get this figured out together. And with that, I'd like to introduce [13:21] Representative Joel McIntyre. What happened today is a tragedy. Longview is a strong and resilient [13:35] community and it will recover. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge though that there are families [13:40] today that have lost everything and they never will be able to get back to normal. They will never [13:46] recover. Such tragedies like this put things in perspective that it could have happened to any of us [13:51] or any of our families at any time. And I'm just going to hold my family a little tighter tonight [13:57] in gratitude because nobody thought that this morning their loved one wouldn't come back. [14:05] In these times of this kind of uncertainty and tragedy, we sometimes need to zoom out and look [14:12] at the bigger picture. A message was sent out from a local religious leader that I think puts it into [14:17] better words than I can. And I'd like to close by reading his remarks. He said to his members of his [14:29] church and the community in general, it is with deep sorrow that we acknowledge the tragic chemical [14:35] spill that occurred today at the DynaWave packaging facility in Longview. Our hearts are heavy as we [14:40] consider the impact this incident has had on families, employees, emergency responders and all those [14:46] affected throughout our community. On behalf of our church, we extend our sincere condolences, [14:52] love and prayers to the individuals and families who are suffering during this difficult time. [14:57] We especially pray for those who lost loved ones, those who were injured, those anxiously awaiting [15:03] news about their loved ones and all who are carrying the emotional weight of this tragedy. [15:08] We're profoundly grateful for the courage and the service of first responders, medical personnel, [15:13] plant employees, community leaders who acted swiftly under difficult and dangerous circumstances. [15:19] Their efforts reflect the very best of compassion, sacrifice and community service. [15:25] In moments such as these, we are reminded that the strength of a community is found in the [15:29] way we care for one another. We encourage our members and friends to continue offering prayers, [15:35] kindness, patience and support to those in need in the difficult days ahead. As disciples of Jesus [15:42] Christ, we believe that even in times of uncertainty and grief, the Savior's love can bring comfort, [15:49] peace and hope. May we unite as a community in lifting and strengthening one another. [15:54] With heartfelt sympathy, John Schmidt, stake president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [16:01] And with that, I'd like to turn it over to another representative, Jim Walsh. [16:05] What a terrible day. But bad days like this are the test of our ability to come together [16:21] and to remedy trouble, to get to the bottom of why these things happen and how we can better prevent [16:30] them from happening again. This is a place where real people make real things. This is not the virtual [16:43] world. And real things and real industry always carries risk. But it's our job to make sure that [16:56] risk like this is well managed and to the extent it can be controlled. And I am so impressed with how [17:07] people at all levels of government, from all sides of the spectrum, have come together to solve these [17:17] problems today and for the next few days so that we can go forward more safely, more constructively, [17:28] and more productively. What I ask the people out in the community is be careful about letting gossip [17:37] run here. We're in the early day of figuring out exactly what happened and how and figuring out exactly [17:45] what we can do to prevent this from happening again. So let the process work. Let the responders work. [17:54] And in time, we will know more precisely what happened and why. But for now, I think all of us [18:04] are with those families that are waiting to get the answer. And I feel you. I see you. I know what [18:14] you're feeling. And no one can feel it for you. We can't make it go away. But Godspeed and know we care [18:24] for you. I'm so impressed that the pulp and paper workers immediately have put together a facility for the [18:32] family members to have a place to go and talk to each other, if no one else. This is a community. [18:42] And it is coming together. And at times like this, through sorrow, we see what is best in people. [18:53] And I'm encouraged by that. And now to close up our comments, the Mayor of Longview, Eric Halverson. [19:03] Good afternoon. Thank you for being here. We're speaking to you today under incredibly grave circumstances. [19:14] As our emergency teams continue their tireless work here, our community has entered a time of profound [19:22] tragedy and deep mourning. On behalf of the entire city of Longview, our hearts are heavy. Our deepest [19:30] prayers go out to the families, the loved ones, the co-workers who are experiencing unimaginable grief [19:37] and pain today. To those families, we are with you. Know that your city stands with you. You're not alone. [19:46] We will support you through the darkest days and weeks ahead. I want to extend my most profound [19:53] gratitude to the first responders, the medical personnel, chaplains who have been on the ground [19:59] since the first alarm sounded this morning. They're working tirelessly in highly complex and dangerous [20:06] conditions. Not only to stabilize the site, but to provide immediate care and spiritual comfort [20:13] to the workers and families who are hurting. As you heard today, we are fully coordinating our response [20:20] at every level of government. Thank you, Governor Ferguson, Senator Murray, Representative Glusenkamp-Perez, [20:28] Senator Wilson, and Representatives McIntyre and Walsh. We are completely aligned on supporting Longview's [20:35] families, protecting our workforce, and ensuring the full weight of local, state, and federal resources [20:43] are deployed to assist our teams on the ground. And in closing, I'll invite the command staff to answer [20:49] any questions that they can, Chief Goldstein and Town Chief Amos. Thank you, Mayor Halverson. As the Mayor [21:02] said, we're here to attempt to answer your questions. Understand, as earlier when we talked to you, we will be [21:09] able to answer some. We will not be able to get into other questions. I'm going to work just from my [21:15] right around to my left and identify you all and work that way. Okay? Go ahead. [21:23] It's really dangerous. If you're holding off for tomorrow, since there's still a lot going on, [21:42] can you just kind of explain that a little bit more for the general public who might not understand the situation? [21:48] You want me to have it? Sure. So thank you for the question. The question about details about the recovery process. [21:56] One of the things that I want the media community to understand and the members of our community to understand [22:04] is one of the pictures that was put out earlier by Longview City about the tank. That is the 900,000 gallon tank [22:12] that had the failure. And I'm going to use failure not as a technical word, but just as a general description. [22:19] And that tank, as outlined, has roughly 90,000 gallons of product remaining of the white liqueur. [22:28] That's the concern of additional liquid leaking because it's very caustic. Additionally, [22:35] the tank itself collapsing while men and women are in the area retrieving their co-workers and the members [22:43] from Nippon. How that gets stabilized is what our primary goal is. Stabilizing the tank, one, removing the [22:55] liquid from inside the tank, two, then accessing the victims that we are able to locate and recover. [23:05] Our secondary goal is to return all of the workers to their families to have a closure for this incident. [23:15] The chemicals themselves are ones that the team is very distinctly aware of. We know what the concerns [23:23] are. We have even hypothesized the concerns of tank A and tank B mixing and having a different issue. [23:30] And that, as the governor outlined, is part of that lengthy conversation we had inside a little bit ago. [23:38] We don't know until we know, hopefully tomorrow, how we can stabilize the tank. [23:44] Do we remove the product first? Do we stabilize the tank first? Or the vice versa? That will be our [23:51] step forward. Responder and plant safety is the number one. Then the community is a natural relay to [24:01] that. So we can't give you details. Thank you. I'm going to go to the front to the back. That [24:18] information we don't have at this time. All right, so repeating the question. The question is about what [24:41] caused the tank to fail and when was the last inspection? Do not have that information at this [24:47] time. Can we take that? Sure. Go ahead. So we're going to speak on crews. First off, [25:04] emergency crews that responded today. Both Longview Fire and Cowlitz 2 provided fire suppression units, [25:11] multiple ambulance companies, multiple ambulance companies, as well as medics ambulance service [25:18] to transport those patients, 10 patients to the hospital. We also worked with Vancouver Fire [25:25] Department for, we used them as a resource when attempting hazmat response. Calitz 2 provided some [25:35] hazmat technicians to make initial access to the area and we used them for reference for the product and [25:41] our continued operation. Right now we have the site completely secure, allowing no access in. Responders [25:50] are back replenishing supplies as we make our plans here with all of our partners for our plan for tomorrow [25:58] for recovery efforts. With the dangers of the site being present, one of the early planning decisions that [26:05] was made that we would operate during daytime hours, limiting our risk to only that operational [26:12] periods during the daytime. That's for the benefit of the safety of the personnel. As Matt outlined, [26:19] state ecology is here. EPA is here and that's providing additional resources as well as air [26:26] monitoring in the community, as well as water sampling to the concerns. Midline 13. [26:34] So to outline the question, the dangers of the chemical, the white liqueur, and then where did the, [27:15] we're going to use the number of roughly 500,000 gallons of the product go. Let me start with the [27:21] second and then get into the first. During the explosion, there was also a rupture of a on-site [27:28] facility water main. I'm going to call it the fire hydrant, the fire main on site. We had a large volume of [27:35] fire main water combined with the roughly anticipated 500,000 gallons of the liquid that was dispersed. That [27:45] remained on site and is remaining on site. The staff here on site has a very robust treatment capability [27:53] for their operational services on a day-to-day basis. And in conjunction with the state agencies here, [28:02] one of the things that we relayed, Matt mentioned it in his briefing, is we want the community to stay [28:09] away from the dike and the ditches between Washington Way here and Prudential. We saw an initial increase [28:18] in the pH level in those, that waterway. One of the early calls that were created was to the [28:23] diking district to turn off their pumps in that area so as to keep it contained there. That message of [28:32] stay out of that area, Washington to Prudential Boulevard, is what we want everybody to be aware of, [28:37] and plans are in place to put signage out to ensure that is known for those that don't capture it in the [28:44] newspaper. The dangers of the white liqueur. Can you take that as far as the caustic? Yeah, the white liqueur [28:53] is used in the basically the paper making process. It's a caustic, so it has a high pH. I believe it's roughly [29:01] a 13 out of 14 on the scale and it would burn your skin, basically second to third degree burns. [29:15] When you come in contact with it, it is direct inhalation. If you're in a lot of plume, it can be [29:22] dangerous, but it's more of an irritant as it creates a small cloud on the ground before it dissipates. [29:29] So speaking on our first responders coming in contact with it, like our PPE levels, we do have [29:37] some damaged PPE that had to be taken out of service because of that, because of what it does [29:43] to our equipment. But because we did have some of that happen during the initial rescue operations [29:51] where we were taking viable victims from the scene, and so we did have some exposure to chemicals [29:56] on our PPE. Thank you. [30:13] Well, the question was the impact of Nippon Dino Way to the community and the impact in the days [30:20] forthcoming. I'm going to be pretty broad in my component here. This campus, the one you see here, [30:28] is a combination of roughly six to seven different companies right within this gate area and beyond. [30:36] Part of the infrastructure that was impacted by this tank failure will be shut down and has been [30:44] shut down throughout this day process so that the site can be safe for our operations, which will have [30:50] a limited production on a couple of the other businesses here on site. That information is one I [30:57] don't want to get into the details, but it is part of the complex intertwined nature of the site. [31:05] You heard our representatives and our state officials talk about how critical this industrial area is to [31:13] this community. It has been this way for 100 years now and remains that way. Many, many folks have many [31:22] generations of family that have worked at these sites and a very broad support off-site for agencies [31:31] and businesses that support the work on site. This is an impact feeling wide and deep throughout the community. [31:38] Jack, Billy, you know, earlier in the day this was described as a chemical explosion. Since heard the word [31:44] rupture and now, you know, failure. When this stuff came out, I mean, are we talking it just spills out? [31:49] Was it under pressure? How exactly did this play out after that tank ruptured? I understand, [31:54] I'm still not sure how exactly it ruptured, but what happened after that? [31:57] Right, so I want to outline what we said earlier. The original call was for an implosion or an explosion [32:04] of a tank with three burned and one missing. That was the original 911 call of many that was received [32:12] by the 911 center. We're not stating that it was an explosion, implosion. We don't know if something [32:19] precipitated that and then that was secondary to whatever the first thing was. That's why when we [32:26] stayed here today we said failure as the representatives outlined. The Chemical Safety Board is a great group [32:34] of folks that when they come here they will figure that out. They will figure out what happened and that [32:40] sequence of happening and then be able to identify for this site and all sites like it how to ensure [32:49] something like that can be prevented. Okay, so we're not sure how our focus is on the rescues as well [32:56] as the recovery and that will be a step that will be occurring in the days to come. Okay, last one. [33:06] I missed the middle part of potential what? Okay, as we identified there's nine unaccounted for. There were [33:32] nine facility staff transported one firefighter transported. The situation here is one that through [33:42] the AWPPW staff as well as the law enforcement and medical examiner staff we provided very detailed [33:51] information to the families at hand. They were the first to know about the tank's instability and the [33:58] changes in our structural assuming in our strategies on site. They are a very strong priority. At the moment, [34:07] we do not believe at the moment we are not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made that are being [34:16] hampered by the situation at hand. We had folks in firefighting gear make entry and then we had folks [34:23] in hazmat suits make entry and did checks into areas that were dangerous, extremely dangerous. So as [34:32] I say, there's no belief of rescues that still need to be made. We also use drones to access those areas [34:39] secondary after our responders had been in them in that recovery the initial or the excuse me the [34:44] initial rescue operations. So thank you very much. As we outlined, we'll have an update provided by 10am [34:52] tomorrow and I appreciate your being here as well as the help throughout the communities. Thank you very [34:59] much. Well, you've been listening to an incredibly sobering news conference from first responders and [35:05] political leaders from all levels in Longview where a chemical tank exploded at a paper mill this morning [35:12] along the Columbia one person dead nine injured including a firefighter and nine people unaccounted [35:18] for the one confirmed dead his name is Gilbert Bernal a father a grandfather a husband a friend [35:24] described as a wonderful person by the pastor who knew them worked at this plant for 15 years [35:29] as an electrician no word on the exact extent of those injuries but nine injured and none nine unaccounted [35:36] for as we look at these incredible images of that tank on its side which officials cautioned still has [35:41] liquid inside a chemical that could burn you and potentially as we've seen potentially kill you as [35:48] well the recovery process now on pause overnight first responders saying their priority is to stabilize [35:54] the tank and then remove the liquid they're not sure in which order they're going to do that concerns [35:59] two tanks could miss could mix responder and plant safety obviously the number one priority [36:05] and then they say the grim task the reality of accessing the human remains in or around that [36:12] tank and eventually returning those human remains to their families they're not saying nine people [36:18] presume dead but they're saying nine are missing and unaccounted for as that recovery effort is put on [36:24] pause overnight uh truly unthinkable horrors today congresswoman marie glusenkamp-perez saying well senator [36:30] senator paddy murray saying an amazing community of hard-working people this tragedy affects everyone [36:38] we've also learned some people in the longview kelsey area will be holding a vigil this evening we'll [36:43] be covering that and any updates on the implosion in a special edition newscast here on kdw plus and [36:49] on air right after tonight's nba game on nbc tragic day here in the portland metro for now i'm david [36:55] molco stay safe we'll see you back here later tonight