Newark chemical plant fire
© Gus Singleton
Five people were injured Monday afternoon in a chemical plant fire sparked by an explosion in a chemical collection tank.

The fire at Arboris, on Tamarack Road, was reported shortly after 1:30. Newark Fire Chief Patrick Connor said five company workers and contractors were hurt, but their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The fire was extinguished and emergency crews were being released about an hour after it began, Connor said.

An explosion from a collection tank, holding hexane and ethanol, appeared to have caused the blaze, he said.

It did not appear the explosion or resulting fire were caused intentionally, but the fire department's arson investigator was on scene Monday and would continue to look into the fire, said Capt. Andrew Morris. Arboris employees had also started their own internal investigation after crews cleared the scene, he said.


Arboris describes itself on its website as the world's leading producer of naturally-occurring sterols, similar to cholesterol, which are used primarily in heart-healthy food products. The company has manufacturing plants in Newark and Savannah, Ga.

The company declined to comment on Monday.

There was a significant amount of flames upon emergency crews' arrival, but all of the safety procedures put in place by the plant worked well, Connor said.