State Fire Marshal

REPORT IS: Supplemental

TO: Origin and Cause Investigation

107 Jacobsen Way

Carson City, Nevada 89711

CASE NUMBER: 15H394904

OTHER NUMBER:10182015-119

THIS IS A PRELIMINARY REPORT ONLY. OCTOBER 22, 2015, 1615 HOURS

At approximately 0830 hours October 20, 2015 Lt. Dzyak directed me to respond to a fire located in Beatty Nevada.
I arrived in Beatty and made contact with Mike Leigh with Nevada Environmental Protection and Jon Bakkedahl
with Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
At approximately 1800 hours we traveled to the US Ecology facility to conduct a preliminary site assessment of the
incident. Mr. Bakkedahl conducted monitoring as we approached the site, and there was no radiation contaminates
detected. We observed the area in question. At that time we left the area due to darkness.
On October 21, 2015 at approximately 0700 hours we arrived back at US Ecology and met with Bob Marchand
General Manager of the US Ecology facility, Deputy George Wehrly with the Nye County Sherifs Department, and
Michael Harmon with Beatty Fire Department. Mr. Marchand stated on October 18, 2015 at approximately 1300
hours the onsite Security Officer and the facility Environmental Manager heard some sounds of bangs. They went
to investigate the area and observed smoke coming from a large crater located in a fenced area labeled
Radioactive Materials. They also observed debris ejecting out of the crater fifty (50) to sixty (60) feet into the air.
This occurred for several hours.
The employees contacted the site General Manager and notified him of the incident. Mr. Marchand arrived onsite to
take video of the incident that was taking place. He stated that he observed flames coming out of the crater. The
flames were approximately five (5) feet high and bright orange in color. There was no attempt to extinguish the fire.

We then traveled to the incident area to begin our investigation. We arrived and conducted a safety briefing.

Radiation monitoring then was conducted by Jon Bakkedahl of the incident area.

Photographs were taken of the incident area.

We then did measurements of the incident area. The furthest debris that we located from the crater was one
hundred and ninety feet (190)

We observed two (2) fifty five (55) gallon drums that were located on the other side of the fence line.

We observed multiple fifty five (55) gallon drums that sustained damage located in and around the crater.

The diameter of the crater was approximately twenty and one half feet (20 1/2) by 29 and one half feet
(29 1/2).

Officer Martin Azevedo

ARRESTING/REPORTING OFFICER:

DO6016
I.D. NO.:

DATE AND TIME REPORT PREPARED:APPROVED BY:

State Fire Marshal

REPORT IS: Supplemental
TO: Origin and Cause Investigation

107 Jacobsen Way

Carson City, Nevada 89711

CASE NUMBER: 15H394904

OTHER NUMBER:10182015-119

I observed a small burn pattern on a drum located within the hole. I did not enter the crater due to safety
issues. I did not observe any other burn patterns or burn indicators within the crater. This would be due
to a very clean burning fire.

I observed a light smoke pattern on one side of the crater

The drums that I observed located in and around the hole were heavily corroded. I also observed that the
drums still contained material within them.

The hole appeared to have some moisture within it. The area experienced heavy rains the day of the
incident. It is my opinion it is possible water was able to penetrate the area where the crater is
located, and that water may have reacted with the product located within that area. Further investigation
is still needed to determine what kind of material was buried within that area.

This report serves as a preliminary report at this time. A final report will be submitted when a full investigation of the
incident has been completed.

Officer Martin Azevedo

ARRESTING/REPORTING OFFICER:

DO6016
I.D. NO.:

DATE AND TIME REPORT PREPARED:APPROVED BY: