'Major chemical explosion' injures multiple people at Washington paper mill

Kai Uyehara, The Seattle Times on May 26, 2026

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SEATTLE — Multiple people suffered chemical burns and other injuries in Longview, Washington, after a “major chemical explosion” was reported at a pulp and paper mill Tuesday morning, authorities say.

The explosion was reported around 7:20 a.m. at the Nippon Dynaware Packaging facility in Longview, according to the city’s Fire Department. The incident involved a vat of chemical treatment product.

Residents are being asked to stay away from Industrial Way and avoid the surrounding areas while emergency crews go to work, the Fire Department said. The department said there is no immediate threat to the public.

Those injured were taken by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Clark County. The extent of their injuries is unknown, the department said.

Nippon Dynawave in Longview is a pulp and paper mill with around 550 employees, producing about 280,000 tons of bleached liquid packaging paperboard and wetlap and slush pulp each year, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology. The liquid packaging plant has about 450 employees.