July 18, 2011 – Intel reportedly has determined what caused a fire last month at its fab facilities in Chandler, AZ: a "temporary system " used in solvent cleaning.
The company says the system in question, a stand-in process until a permanent system comes online later this summer, was being started up for the first time. It’s been abandoned at all Intel locations including Chandler, according to a local report.
The incident on June 7, referred to as an "explosion" and/or "flash fire," occurred in a solvent waste treatment room adjacent to Fab 22, injuring seven people. Evacuated workers returned later that same afternoon, and production at nearby Fab 12 was uninterrupted.