First, I want to thank those who PM'd me to ask if we were safe … yes, we are. The horrific explosion did not affect us at all, as far as we know - we were out and about with windows down, and suffered no breathing complications. Thank you for caring; thank you for asking. You are blessings in our Life, and you will be blessed for having loving hearts ❤️
Then I called David, who lives in Longview, to find out if he and his family are safe: they are, thank Elohim. Knowing this, made my heart happy.
Secondly, I would ask you to please pray for the families involved - there are mothers, sisters, wives, children, in-laws, and friends who will never see, touch, hug, kiss, talk with, or love on their loved ones who have perished … and are now living on borrowed time until the Grim Reaper collects them, also.
It is one thing to know your loved one is dying - you have time to prepare. Time to say goodbye. Time to grieve in a kind of peaceful knowing and letting go.
Sudden death is harder to deal with. Harder to recover from. You watch them walk out the door on their way to work, expecting them back home at some point, after punching out when their shift is finished. To learn by a phone call, a TV newsbreak, a reporter sent to interview you - that they will never darken your doorstep again, is a shock to the system that time may not be able to fully soothe.
There are people seriously hurting tonight. While prayer will not bring their loved ones back; it can ease some of the pain. And give hope to those who will accept.
{{Multiple injuries, 1 dead, 9 missing after chemical implosion at Longview paper mill
~by KOMO News Staff Tue, May 26, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Updated Tue, May 26, 2026 at 7:53 PM
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Multiple people were injured and at least one person was killed after a major chemical explosion Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave plant in Longview, an incident authorities described as a complex and hazardous industrial accident.
Crews with the Longview Fire Department responded to the facility at 7:18 a.m. after a tank containing white liquor ruptured, according to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Scott Goldstein.
Officials said there is no direct threat to the surrounding community, but residents were urged to avoid Industrial Way and nearby areas while emergency crews continue response and recovery operations.
Nippon Dynawave is a Kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant.
White liquor, the chemical involved in the incident, is a highly corrosive alkaline solution primarily made of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. It is used in the Kraft papermaking process to break down wood chips into pulp.
During a 7 p.m. press conference, Battalion Chief Matt Amos with the Longview Fire Department confirmed multiple critical injuries and fatalities.
Officials said 10 people were transported to area hospitals, including eight plant employees and one firefighter. Authorities confirmed one death.
Nine employees remain unaccounted for, Amos said, adding that all impacted families have been notified.
Authorities said the damaged tank at the mill, located at 3401 Industrial Way, was originally believed to hold about 80,000 gallons of white liquor, a caustic chemical solution used in paper manufacturing. Officials later determined the tank contained approximately 900,000 gallons, with an estimated 90,000 gallons still remaining inside the unstable structure.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Bob Ferguson issued this statement regarding the incident:
"I just met with leaders at key state agencies tracking the latest on the Longview explosion. Ecology and L&I have teams on the scene. Washington State Emergency Management is in constant communication with local responders. I directed our National Guard teams on alert. We’ll be sharing updates as the situation develops. My prayers are with the families of those lost in this tragedy."
The tank remains unstable, creating dangerous conditions for emergency personnel and limiting access to portions of the facility, officials said.
“Crews are actively assessing the structural integrity of the tank,” Goldstein said. “We are working on plans to stabilize the tank before additional recovery operations can safely proceed.”
Because of the instability at the site, some areas of the plant remain inaccessible, Amos said.
Recovery efforts were suspended Tuesday evening because of safety concerns and are expected to resume Wednesday once conditions allow crews to safely continue operations.
Numerous local, regional and state agencies remain involved in the response alongside facility personnel.
Ferguson said the state has mobilized the Washington National Guard Civil Support Team, which is now on site assisting the Department of Ecology with air monitoring.
Ferguson also said he directed the National Guard Homeland Response Force to deploy to the area to assist with search-and-recovery operations in contaminated environments and mass decontamination if needed.
The Washington Department of Ecology and the Department of Labor & Industries are also on scene. Ecology crews are monitoring water quality, while Labor & Industries is preparing to begin an investigation once first responders conclude emergency operations.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and state Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, also spoke during Tuesday evening’s press conference.
Officials said another public update is expected at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
https://komonews.com/news/local/multiple-injuries-after-longview-rocked-by-major-chemical-explosion-at-paper-mill-nippon-dynawave-kraft-pulp-liquid-packaging-plant-emergency-response?fbclid=IwY2xjawSDVeNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEemg6RPlwx6pyBOLJlk5X7yUsvnsxUnMOeri7TLyt_zCePP-uJiieDdNh2s9c_aem_HxZANJ1xbOH4Ut1VgXxXQA }}
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