Fire and explosion investigation

Engineering evidence for fire and explosion claims.

EPS investigates commercial and industrial fires and explosions for attorneys, insurers, and facility owners. Our work includes origin and cause analysis, equipment failure analysis, blast modeling, and expert testimony.

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Representative Engagements

A selection of EPS engagements across engineering, forensics, and valuation.

Oil Refinery Explosion, Chemical Release, and Root Cause Analysis

Challenge: A major oil refinery experienced a catastrophic explosion in Superior, Wisconsin, resulting in extensive property damage, injuries to over 70 workers, and the evacuation of 27,000 residents due to a release of hazardous chemicals into the community.
Solution: EPS conducted an accurate, insightful forensic investigation, determining the root causes of the equipment failures, operational and safety-procedure failures, blast-wave generation, and the release of hazardous chemicals.
Result: EPS's investigation and testimony contributed to favorable outcomes in four lawsuits, including a class action for the community and three workplace injury lawsuits for contract workers.

Oxygen-Enriched Technology Explosion at Steel Mill

Challenge: A steel production facility experienced a catastrophic explosion involving oxygen-enrichment technology, resulting in the tragic deaths of two workers and serious injuries to another.
Solution: EPS conducted a forensic investigation detailing the failed components and performed an effective root cause analysis of the metallurgy and operating conditions, determining the origins and causes of the workers’ injuries and deaths.
Result: The technology provider and associated defendants provided compensation to the estates of the deceased workers and to the injured worker.

Explosion Blast Wave Determination for Injured Houston Neighborhood

Challenge: In 2020, an explosion at an industrial facility resulted in fatalities and damaged more than 1,000 properties across Houston-area neighborhoods.
Solution: EPS, leveraging its leading forensic methodologies, including advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD), quantified the effects of the explosion, including blast wave propagation through the neighborhoods.
Result: Immediately after the analysis was presented, EPS clients obtained a settlement of $52 million, plus undisclosed amounts, covering injuries and property damage for approximately 2,200 claimants.

Engineering Expertise Overcomes Data Gaps in Renewable Ethanol Explosion Investigation

Challenge: A devastating explosion at a farm silo resulted in significant structural damage and loss of life, with renewable ethanol and fermentation-related causes suspected. However, critical production data and laboratory samples were not preserved by the owner, complicating the investigation.
Solution: EPS engineers performed forensic analyses, including debris mapping, blast force calculations, and process evaluations, to identify the origin and cause of the explosion. EPS’s investigation confirmed the presence of ethanol that had been improperly handled during the biofuel production supply chain.
Result: The investigation determined biofuel manufacturing operational missteps, key safety protocol violations, and destruction of data, resulting in a pre-trial award for the deceased’s family.

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Tell us the incident location, who you represent, what evidence is available, and any inspection or disclosure deadlines. We will assess the scope and our availability.

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