HARDIN – A state fire marshal’s report cited an inappropriate pressure relief valve as the likely cause of an explosion at Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin.
The explosion of the 300-gallon still resulted in the death of assistant distiller Kyle Rogers, 26. His cousin, master distiller Jay Rogers, 40, was severely burned.
“All indications are that the event directly involved the over pressurization of the still with subsequent failure which resulted in it being propelled out of the north end of the structure in which it was housed”, the report stated.
The distillery, owned by Spencer Balentine, produces LBL Moonshine.
The report, issued Friday by investigator Bill Compton of the fire marshal’s office, stated, “At this time and based upon available information and evidence, there is no indication that the event at Silver Trail Distillery was anything other than an accident.”
Compton dismissed the likelihood of a propane-fueled incident, determining that pressure caused the still to explode. The injuries to the two employees, the report said, were caused by scalding-hot mash that was cooking at approximately 200 degrees inside the still when it blew up.
The Revenoor Company of Yamhill, Oregon, is the manufacturer of the still. Terry Wilhelm of Revenoor told investigators that the still is “not a pressure vessel” and is designed to operate at less than 4-5 pounds per square inch of pressure.
The Silver Trail unit was equipped with a pressure relief valve designed for use on a water heater, and rated at 150 psi.
“Being that the still was not designed or intended to be a pressure vessel, a pressure relief valve rated at 150 psi appears very excessive,” the report stated. The water heater relief valve was “utilized outside of its listing,” it added.
To prevent future distillery explosions, Compton’s report recommended that listed pressure relief valves should be installed and discharge pipes leading to the exterior of the building and the installation of pressure gauges in the vapor space of the pot and vapor column of the still.