Investigation of Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant Magazine Fire - 9 August 1989

A magazine fire involving 30,715 pounds of Navy propelling charges hazard class 1.3mass fire occurred at Hawthorne AAP. The material was stored in Magazine 116-14-E. The propellant was unserviceable condition code H, awaiting disposal instructions. At 0930, 9 August 1989, a nearby work crew heard a bang followed by smoke and sparks coming from the magazine door vents and smoke from the rear ventilator. The doors were then forced open by the pressure of the burning propellant followed by a large jet of flame. The magazine was allowed to cool overnight. An explosive ordnance disposal EOD team entered the magazine the next morning and determined there was no unburned propellant in the magazine. The most probable cause was spontaneous ignition due to low stabilizer of 8-inch, 55-caliber bagged propelling charges national stock number NSN 1320-00-089-4275 Department of Defense identification code DODIC D605 located in the left front portion of the magazine. This was based on the known low stabilizer content 0.04 to .13 percent of seven 8-inch propelling charges lots located in this area lot numbers DG-2-CO-68, DGR-1-HAW-55, DGR-11-CO-68, DGR-13-CO-68, DGR-14-CO-68, DGR-5-CO-69, and DGR-8-C-51 heavy fire damage occurring in the left front portion of the magazine and analysis of observations made by several witnesses.