116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Methane gas build-up cited as cause of Coralville explosion
Fire officials say they believe a build-up of methane gas that was ignited by a worker using a torch to melt ice caused an explosion at the Coralville wastewater treatment plant.
Brian Lamansky, the city's wastewater superintendent, was injured on Dec. 27. Fire Chief Dave Stannard says Lamansky was on the roof of a building using a blow torch to melt ice off a roof hatch of a sludge holding facility so workers could empty the tank. The explosion lifted the roof off the tank.
Stannard told the Iowa City Press-Citizen today that the city will look into providing better ventilation on the roof to prevent future methane build-up and will explore changing protocol to ensure open flames are not used near the tank.
Coralville firefighters and engineers from VJ Engineering walk past a sludge covered piece of equipment as they examine the sludge storage facility at the Coralville Wastewater Treatment Plant following an explosion Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 in Coralville. One person was injured in the blast and the cause of the explosion is under investigation. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)
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