SNOW HILL — An incinerator explosion at the Greene County Animal Shelter has left the only animal control officer in the county injured and not able to work for an unknown amount of time.
The accident, which happened April 10, was brought to light at the Greene County Board of Commissioners meeting by a citizen presenting to the board.
At about 9 a.m., Randy Hawkins, the officer, was taking euthanized animals from a freezer to a gas-fueled incinerator when a blast came out from the unit’s door, throwing the officer against a mobile unit about 10 feet away, Shelter Attendant Gayle Joyner said. The impact caused dents where his body and head hit the trailer, she added.
Joyner said she pulled up at the shelter just after the accident happened and saw Hawkins coming toward her quickly and looking disoriented.
“I thought Randy had been bitten by a dog,” she said.
Joyner said he told her to go look at his jacket, which was burned and melted.
He kept saying his hand was burning, but there were no burn marks on it, she said.
“He told me he hit the trailer and it dented in,” Joyner said.
Fortunately, Hawkins had put on a bullet-proof vest because he planned to make a call later that day in a potentially dangerous area. It may have saved his life, Joyner said.
“If it hadn’t been for that,” she said about the vest, “it probably would have killed him.”
Hawkins suffered a concussion, Joyner and Greene County Health Department Director Michael Rhodes confirmed.
“The vision in his left eye is still not clear,” Joyner said, “and he still has ringing in his ears.”
The burns that he felt immediately after the accident later began to show up visibly, she said.
Rhodes said he won’t be returning to work until his doctor gives the OK.
“We’re just taking it a week at a time,” Rhodes said.
The metal incinerator’s ignition had not been starting up easily in the past and the unit had been repaired about six months earlier, he said. Joyner said Hawkins had mentioned having problems with it again. The unit was fired up and running when the explosion occurred, she said.
Rhodes said Hawkins had called about the problem again and he was in the process of getting a technician to look at it.
“We’re not using it until it gets a complete checkout,” Rhodes said. “I’m trying to find someone certified to look at it this time.”
Joyner has been working toward becoming an officer, but she isn’t currently licensed to carry a gun nor is she rabies-certified by the state. However, she can assist with emergency calls.
Greene County Sheriff Lemmie Smith said his deputies take emergency after-hours calls, but they don’t have the equipment to handle aggressive dogs.
“We’re having to assist more calls,” Smith said, “because animal control doesn’t have an animal control officer.”
Rhodes said the department is focusing on animal bites until there is additional help.
“It affects us greatly,” he said about the accident, “because, at the moment, we don’t have anybody to pick up animals.”
With the shelter nearly full, Rhodes said residents can bring animals to the shelter, but should call first to make sure there is space available.
Before dropping off a dog or cat, call the Greene County Animal Shelter at 252-747-8184.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.