Undefeated Texas Explosion Lawyers
A powerful industrial explosion tore through the Panhandle Milling facility in Dawn, Texas early Wednesday morning, tragically killing one of the mill’s employees and critically injuring three more.
Flour Mill Building Partially Collapsed in Explosion
The blast erupted shortly before 3:30 a.m. on July 23rd at the Panhandle Milling complex, located at 4805 FM 809 in Dawn, Texas, an unincorporated community just 35 miles southwest of Amarillo.
The force of the massive explosion caused part of one building to collapse and ignited a grass fire just outside the mill.
The Dawn Volunteer Fire Department was first on the scene and quickly worked to contain the fire. Additional emergency crews from Hereford and Amarillo quickly arrived to assist with search and rescue efforts in the extensive damage caused by the blaze.
36-Year-Old Worker Tragically Killed. Three Others Suffer Severe Burns
Four workers were reportedly inside the facility at the time of the explosion. Paramedics transported three of the victims to nearby hospitals with severe, life-threatening burns.
Tragically, a 36-year-old woman—a mother of three and Panhandle Milling employee—was found in the debris around 6 a.m. after a painstaking search.
TxDOT shut down a stretch of FM 809 between FM 1062 and FM 2587 until approximately 9 a.m. as emergency crews worked the scene.
What Caused the Panhandle Milling Explosion?
As of now, it’s unclear whether OSHA or other regulatory agencies are investigating the incident. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the explosion, and it’s unclear whether a formal investigation has begun.
However, industrial accidents like this often result from preventable safety failures.
Common Causes of Industrial Explosions We Investigate Include:
- Combustible dust buildup: Flour and grain dust are highly combustible and can trigger secondary explosions if not properly ventilated and cleaned.
- Equipment failure or improper maintenance: Malfunctioning mixers, conveyor belts, or electrical systems can ignite volatile materials.
- Natural gas leaks or explosions: Undetected leaks or faulty gas lines can result in devastating blasts, especially in enclosed industrial spaces
- Lack of proper hazard training or safety protocols
- Inadequate ventilation or dust collection systems
- Failure to comply with OSHA safety standards and NFPA codes
Our explosion lawyers have handled dozens of similar cases across the country and know that companies often fail to follow even the most basic safety requirements — putting profit before the lives of their workers.
About Panhandle Milling and PHM Brands
Panhandle Milling is a large-scale grain processing and packaging facility owned by PHM Brands, a Denver-based supplier of grain-based products. According to World Grain, the Dawn facility has a daily wheat flour milling capacity of 5,000 cwts and licensed grain storage capacity of 3 million bushels. It also includes a packaging plant, bakery mix operation, and specialty grain processing.
Undefeated Texas Explosion Lawyers: 1-888-603-3636
With Billions won, including some the largest verdicts and settlements in connection with industrial accidents and explosions, our undefeated Texas Explosion Lawyers have the experience, resources, and track record to hold negligent companies accountable and ensure our clients recover the maximum compensation possible.
We represent explosion victims across Texas and the United States, and we never settle for less than our clients deserve.
If you or a loved one were injured in the Panhandle Milling explosion, call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us a confidential email through our contact form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and help you make the best decision for yourself and your family.
Consultations are always free, and you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.