Inspections held at plant within past six months

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

Clark County fire and federal officials within the past six months inspected the model rocket plant that erupted in flames Monday, triggering several explosions.

Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms inspectors checked AeroTech, near Boulder Highway and St. Louis Avenue, in September to ensure the safe storage of ammonium perchlorate and magnesium, as well as the maintenance of proper paperwork, Marti McKee, an ATF spokeswoman, said.

McKee said she could not release the results. However, an official familiar with the report told the Sun that inspectors found a couple of paperwork errors, but no potential safety problems.

AeroTech's ATF license had expired in July and was in the process of being renewed, but a sister company run out of the same building, Industrial Solid Propulsion, had a valid federal license.

A county fire prevention inspector checked AeroTech about six months ago, but the report could not be located Tuesday, said Bob Leinbach, a county fire department spokesman. The inspector was on vacation out of state.

A small blaze started in the eastern Las Vegas manufacturing plant, 1955 S. Palm St., about 12:15 p.m. Monday after a machine that makes model rocket propellant engines sparked, igniting the chemicals.

The fire caused several explosions, injuring three employees -- two critically. Firefighters allowed the chemicals to burn, gutting the plant and several businesses in the industrial park. Residents within a half mile from the plant were evacuated.

Damage has been estimated at between $12 million and $15 million, fire officials said.

A preliminary investigation found the fire was an accident, officials said.

The ATF inspected AeroTech in 1997, 1998, 1999 and this year. Officials refused on Monday to release the inspection results.

Federal inspectors try to go each year to plants that make explosive devices, which is how they categorize the model rocket engines, McKee said.

ATF officials were scheduled to inspect Industrial Solid Propulsion Monday at 5 p.m. as part of the inspection of all explosive manufacturer license holders prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

County fire inspectors also checked the company every year, Leinbach said.

Leinbach said county officials knew the plant was in the industrial park, near residential areas, but he didn't know how many other such businesses were located in the county.

There are about 40 federal permits or licenses in Clark County for explosives, McKee said. The permits allows the use of explosives, and the licenses allows their manufacture or distribution, she said.

Such companies are required to take inventory every seven days and must account for all materials that come in and are used in making the final products, she said.

AeroTech and Industrial Solid Propulsion, manufacture various model rocket kits and propellents, or motors, to power the rockets. They had been in the same building since 1987, according to the company's website.

They were in a light industrial park on two acres that included several automotive businesses.

"To manufacture those devices, they have to have a license and they didn't have one," McKee said.

"They had been licensed for a number of years, but on (Monday), they didn't hold a current license."

The fire was contained by noon Tuesday, said Steve La-Sky, a county fire department spokesman. One engine was still at the scene Tuesday afternoon as investigators worked their way through the gutted buildings.

"We were in a strictly mop-up phase by about 1:30 p.m.," La-Sky said.

Residents at the St. Louis Apartments, 3350 and 3355 E. St. Louis Ave., were allowed back into their apartments about 9 a.m. Tuesday.

About six of the complex's residential buildings back up to the industrial park, with some apartments as close as 50 feet to the charred buildings. A 10-foot block wall separates the two properties.

Complex manager Norma Smith said that the apartments opened in 1999, but she never knew what was being made next door.

"It floored me when I found out," Smith said. "Nobody knew that a rocket factory was in there. I just want to know who permitted this to happen."

Sun reporter Jace Radke contributed to this story.