LOGAN TWP. — According to Logan Township and Gloucester County officials, a non-criminal investigation is underway in the cause of the explosion on March 4 at Savita Naturals on Heron Drive in the Pureland Industrial Complex in Logan Township. The explosion occurred at 2:36 p.m. March 4 and caused catastrophic damage, injuries to employees, and a shelter-in-place order.
As of March 6, three employees are still in critical condition and one is in stable condition. Three other employees drove themselves to the hospital and there is no word on their condition. One employee from a neighboring business was treated and released by the hospital.
Two neighboring businesses’ facilities, Bishops Storehouse, and Sulver Pumps, are now deemed uninhabitable because of the explosion that was felt in Gloucester and Salem Counties, as well as New Castle County, Delaware and Delaware County in Pennsylvania. An additional five buildings in the Pureland Complex received minor damage.
As of March 5, the propane in the five tanks onsite containing 500 gallons have been sealed and a mitigation plan is now underway. The plan could include a controlled flash burn onsite or offloading to a different site.
Logan Township Fire Chief Scott Oatman stated that Savita had received prior safety violations in the past but “nothing out of the ordinary”.
Oatman explained that there were two buildings on the Savita site, with the explosion taking place in the back building. He said that if it weren’t for the construction of the building that was designed with blow-out back walls, there might have been more injuries.
At the time of the explosion there were 14 total employees on site. Three of the injured were in the building that exploded. One of the injured was from the front building.
According to Oatman, Savita Naturals extracts cocoa using propane and ethanol in the process. CBD extraction had been done there until 2023.
A shelter in place was ordered on the day of the explosion for a two-mile radius from the blast, from 2:50 until 5 p.m. This was deemed necessary in case any hazardous material was released. Air quality testing showed that none were released and testing is still being monitored.
Oatman said that Logan Elementary School students were sent home despite the order. Concerns from parents were later raised but said he had been in contact with the school resource officer. Oatman said that he knew the air quality was stable and the shelter in place order was going to be lifted, so the students were allowed to go home.
By Karen E. Viereck, Editor/Publisher
