Danvers Explosion Report Information

To All Interested Parties:

Please be advised that the Cause and Origin report regarding the CAI/Arnel Plant Explosion that occurred on November 21, 2006 in Danvers, Massachusetts, has now been completed by the Department of Fire Services, Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. Copies of this report may be purchased through the following vendor:

Copy Cop
The Digital Printing Company
601 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Please note that this report has been redacted as necessary, in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 4 § 7 cl. 26 (a) and (c), and that all charges for these records comport with authorized fees pursuant to 950 CMR 32.06.

For your convenience, a link to the Order form for the report. 

Also available on this website:

• A copy of the May 7, 2007 press release 
• A summary of the findings 

Code Compliance Investigation Report

The Department of Fire Services has concluded its code compliance investigation into the November 22, 2006 Danvers explosion and a report about the investigation into code issues at the CAI/Arnel chemical processing facility was released on March 11, 2008.

"One of our main objectives is to learn from this tragedy. Today we present not only our findings in the Danvers incident but also our recommendations on steps to take to prevent such a horrific event from ever happening again in our state," said state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan. "We have taken three major steps. We found code violations and issued appropriate citations; we launched a series of joint training sessions to improve communication between municipal licensing, local fire and building officials; and we are seeking legislation and regulations for chemical processing safety."

• A copy of the March 11, 2008 press release 
• A copy of Code Compliance Investigation Report without Appendices 
  • Appendix 1 - Photocopies of satellite photographs of the site - not available electronically.
  • Appendix 2 - List of Chemicals - not available electronically, part of the State Police Cause and Origin Investigation Report (see above).
  • Appendix 3 - Summary of findings of the State Police Cause and Origin Investigation Report 
  • Appendix 4 - 527 CMR 14:03 Table 1 - Current 
  • Appendix 5 - photocopy of 527 CMR 14:03 Table 1 - pre - December 12, 2002 - not available electronically.

To request copies of the Appendices not available electronically, please send a written request to: Legal Department, Department of Fire Services, P.O. Box 1025, Stow, MA 01775.