VANCOUVER, Wash. — Officials in Vancouver say a warehouse building floor collapsed under a heavy load of lead ingots, falling onto plastic containers of rubbing alcohol. One minor injury was reported.
The Columbian reported that the Tuesday afternoon collapse happened at Vancouver Warehouse and Distribution Co.
Vancouver Fire Department Battalion Chief Kevin Griffee says a worker with a forklift had been unloading pallets of lead ingots shortly before the floor gave way.
Company officials say no workers were nearby when the 400,000 pounds of lead dropped onto about 1,000 gallons of rubbing alcohol stored below. Griffee said it wasn’t immediately known how much of the flammable liquid was released.
Judy Bower’s husband owns the business. She says the collapse “sounded like and felt like an explosion.”
Her husband, Chuck Bower, ran toward the sound and soon noticed the rubbing alcohol was causing a burning sensation in his feet. He was treated at the scene.
Vancouver Fire Chief Joe Molina says all employees have been accounted for.
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