Danvers officials deny US assertion
Local and state fire officials and the owner of the plant that exploded in Danvers last November denied yesterday a federal safety agency's assertion that one reason for the blast was that the facility was unlicensed and unregulated by officials.
In preliminary findings from its investigation into the Nov. 22 explosion that damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Danversport, the federal Chemical Safety Board said Wednesday that state and local fire officials did not inspect the building owned by CAI Inc. as required by state code.
But in a statement yesterday, State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said his office is not required to investigate businesses such as CAI, an ink maker based in Georgetown, and a custom paint maker that used the same building, Arnel Inc. "A review of all applicable laws and regulations on fire and explosions clearly indicate s that the Office of the State Fire Marshal does not hold primary responsibility to license, permit, or inspect facilities of this type," the statement said.
Danvers Fire Chief James Tutko said separately that CAI had a valid license to store flammable liquids and that his department met its obligations under the state fire code. According to Coan, a license was issued for such storage at that property beginning in 1944; the license is issued by address, not by plant owner .
W. Paul Needham, a lawyer for CAI Inc., said his clients had a license to store flammable chemicals for decades and that the town renewed the license annually without question.
He also said CAI passed annual reviews conducted for carriers of its fire and worker compensation insurance. Those firms sometimes demanded safety upgrades before they would provide coverage, Needham said.
Through a safety board spokesman, the agency's chief investigator, John Vorderbrueggen , said town officials were asked for all documents regarding the companies, but the license was not provided to his team. He said the board is trying to determine which agency is responsible for enforcing the state fire code in businesses similar to CAI.
In its report, the board said the plant repeatedly violated safety regulations, including routinely shutting off a ventilation system designed to prevent the buildup of chemical vapors. 