Indoor Shooting Range Instructor Killed in Fire

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  A 33-year-old instructor died in a fire at an indoor shooting range. He worked there for six years as an instructor and operated a gunsmithing and holster making side business at the range. The instructor was working in the second-floor classroom inside the range. He was using an angle grinder to modify a metal cart for his side business. It is unknown why he was working there and not in the workshop, which was designated for metal work. He brought the grinder that day, and the owner believed the cart had been brought previously. The classroom contained flammable and combustible materials including ammunition, solvents, paper, and range sweep-off dust that contained unspent gunpowder. Three coworkers and seven customers were in other areas of the range. One worker went to the classroom and saw the instructor cutting the cart with the grinder, with no visible smoke or fire, then returned to the lobby. About a minute later, ceiling tiles began to fall and fire erupted from above. He ran toward an exit door and was blown through it, suffering burns and a head injury. At the same time, the two workers on the first floor heard rushing air followed by an explosion through the stairwell, possibly fueled by combustible dust above the ceiling. Alarms sounded as the fire spread rapidly. The injured worker directed customers to the exit and reentered several times but could not reach the instructor. The instructor was later found about 32 feet from the fire's origin. It is believed he was trying to reach the front exit where others were calling to him. He died from smoke inhalation and burn injuries. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS - Following the incident, investigators found: 1) Fire investigators reported the fire started in the classroom as indicated by burn patterns. They concluded that the source of ignition was either sparks from grinding or an electrical short circuit. The grinder was found unplugged. 2) The employer had an accident prevention program (APP) but it did not include safe use of angle grinders as they were not used by workers. The employer believed the instructor knew that he should do metal work or hot work only in the workshop. 3) One-second floor exit door and stairway were closed due to break-ins. 4) One worker described large accumulations of visible settled dust in the space above the ceiling tiles. RECOMMENDATIONS: FACE investigators concluded, that to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should: 1) Restrict hot work to designated areas. 2) Develop a range cleaning and waste disposal program. Add a cleaning and waste storage and disposal program to your APP. Collect and dispose of settled dusts frequently and safely. Include a focus on storing flammable and combustible materials in a fire safe area and promptly disposing of them. 3) Maintain exit routes to permit prompt evacuation during an emergency.
• Subjects:
  Dust Fires Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Fatalities; Safety education; Fires; Grinding equipment; Gunpowder; Explosive dusts
• FACE - NIOSH and State:
  All (0000) ; Other (0019)
• Source:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 71-276-2026s, 2026 Apr; :1-21
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  State
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Still Image
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Presentation
• Place as Subject:
  Washington ; San Francisco Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  21 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071487
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fc9c5b9d22e2e5a0e2509c2400add8c33f032cb6d39b3799098f8386a14bb5f4b96250807f0f60aafc714d65da15f73a7ab61b2c4c16737121ecba5cbd13bbdb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259085/cdc_259085_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.95 MB ]