Hot weather caused Greenleaf Corp. explosion

Henderson County Fire Marshals have determined the hot weather caused hexane fumes to ignited causing an explosion at an East Flat Rock manufacturer last week.

The explosion happened at 761 Roper Road where the Greenleaf Corporation makes ceramic cutting tools.

Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Waldrup said today investigators determined that due to weather conditions and an abnormal amount of fumes that were ignited from an unknown source created by the chemical hexane caused the explosion.

“The explosion occurred in a furnace or oven that the plant uses,” Waldrup said. “It was contained inside the oven and the fire was caused as a result of the explosion.”

Three workers at the plant were inside at the time of the accident, but all were safely evacuated. There were no injuries.

The explosion involved the chemical hexane, which is made from crude oil used in laboratories and mixed with other chemicals to produce solvents.

Emergency workers evacuated anyone living within 1,000 feet of Greenleaf Tuesday, but only warned those residents outside of the 1,000 feet and issued a voluntary evacuation.