LONGVIEW, Wash. — What began as a normal workday at one of southwest Washington’s largest paper mills ended in heartbreak after a massive chemical tank explosion killed 11 workers and left an entire community grieving.
Authorities have now identified all 11 employees who lost their lives after a tank containing a corrosive chemical mixture known as “white liquor” ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview. Recovery crews spent several days searching through twisted steel, chemical contamination, and unstable debris before locating and identifying every victim.
Among those killed were 52-year-old Gilbert Bernal of Kelso, 29-year-old Tyler Covington of Castle Rock, 27-year-old Brad Covington of Castle Rock, 48-year-old Robert Wilson of Clatskanie, 54-year-old Dale Miller of Portland, 35-year-old Jared Ammons of Longview, 38-year-old Braydon Finkas of Cathlamet, 26-year-old Clinton Doran of Kelso, 51-year-old John Forsberg of Longview, 58-year-old Norman Barlow of Vancouver, and Dillon Miller.
Many of the victims were longtime mill workers with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. Several were fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and husbands who had spent years helping support their families through jobs at the facility. Their deaths have sent shockwaves through Longview and neighboring communities where the paper mill has long been a major employer.
Investigators said the disaster unfolded Tuesday morning when a massive tank holding roughly 900,000 gallons of white liquor suddenly imploded and ruptured. The chemical is commonly used in the paper-making process to break down wood chips. The violent failure triggered a powerful blast that tore through part of the industrial complex and released hundreds of thousands of gallons of corrosive liquid.
Two workers died shortly after the explosion, while nine others remained missing inside the damaged facility. Rescue teams faced major challenges reaching the area because of chemical hazards, unstable structures, and concerns about additional collapses. Recovery efforts stretched across several days as crews carefully worked through the wreckage.
Longview Fire Chief Brad Hannig said emergency teams moved slowly to protect workers involved in the search. Engineers repeatedly inspected damaged structures while hazmat specialists worked to reduce contamination levels before remains could be safely removed from the site.
State and federal investigators are now trying to determine exactly what caused the catastrophic failure. Officials are examining whether corrosion, equipment problems, maintenance issues, or possible design flaws played a role in the implosion. Environmental agencies are also reviewing the chemical release and its impact on surrounding areas.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson described the incident as one of the deadliest industrial disasters in modern state history. Meanwhile, the mill remains shut down indefinitely as investigators continue their work and grieving families begin preparing funerals for the 11 workers whose lives were cut short in a matter of seconds.
