Tank failure at DynaWave packaging in Longview leaves one dead, multiple hospitalized; officials mobilize state and federal response

Scott Goldstein, identifying himself as fire chief with Kalis 2 Fire Rescue, opened a March 26 press briefing in Longview saying emergency crews were dispatched around 7:15 a.m. after a tank rupture at the DynaWave packaging facility and that a large multi‑agency response remained on scene.

Goldstein said early reports that the tank held roughly 80,000 gallons were revised: the damaged vessel is about a 900,000‑gallon tank and officials estimated approximately 90,000 gallons could remain inside. "The tank remains unstable, creating a dangerous situation for our personnel," he said, adding crews were assessing structural integrity and would stabilize the tank before recovery operations could safely proceed.

Matt Amos, battalion chief for the Longview Fire Department, provided casualty and response details. "Today's incident resulted in multiple critical injuries and fatalities," Amos said. He confirmed 10 individuals were transported to area hospitals, describing those cases as "eight employee injuries, one firefighter injury, and we have one fatality," and said nine employees were unaccounted for. Amos said responder safety remains the top priority and that recovery efforts would resume the following morning when conditions allow.

Officials warned the public there was "no direct threat to the surrounding community" at the time of the briefing but urged residents to avoid the dike and drainage between Washington Way and Prudential Boulevard. Goldstein said an on‑site fire main rupture combined with an estimated 500,000 gallons of product dispersed on site and remained contained there; facility treatment capacity, state agencies and local partners were coordinating to limit environmental spread.

State officials mobilized resources to assist. Governor Bob Ferguson said the Washington Emergency Management Division was coordinating with local responders and that he had directed the Washington National Guard and a Homeland Response Force to provide on‑site support, including air monitoring and assistance with search and recovery in contaminated environments. "Department of Ecology is monitoring water quality, and Labor and Industries is ready to begin investigating after the first responders finish their very, very important work," Ferguson said.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who spoke at the briefing, said federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard were on site or ready to help and that she would press for answers about how the incident occurred. Congresswoman Marie Glissencamp Perez, state Sen. Wilson and local representatives and the Longview mayor expressed condolences and urged community support for families affected by the incident.

On the hazardous material involved, Amos described "white liquor" as a caustic chemical used in papermaking with a high pH that can cause severe skin burns and respiratory irritation in concentrated plumes. He said some responder personal protective equipment was damaged during initial rescue operations and that hazmat teams and drone reconnaissance were used to assess inaccessible areas.

When asked about cause and recent inspections, officials said investigators have not yet determined the sequence of events and that the Chemical Safety Board and other investigators would examine the site. Goldstein said they could not yet answer certain technical questions while rescue and stabilization work remained the immediate priority.

Officials said they had notified impacted families and planned to provide a public update at 10 a.m. on March 27. Recovery and victim‑recovery operations will proceed only after crews can safely stabilize the tank and work areas, they said.

The press briefing ended with repeated thanks to first responders and an appeal for the public to avoid speculation while investigators work to determine what happened.