View Full Version : Explosion: The City of West, Texas, just North of Waco on I35
Ambush Master
04-17-2013, 20:54
Massive Fertilizer Plant explodes!! Blows houses off of their foundations 3 miles away!!
Damn dust initiator situations - those places (fertilizer plants, grain mills, lumber mills, etc) are an accident waiting for a lapse in attentiveness to happen.
Condolences to the community. :(
Richard :munchin
Ambush Master
04-17-2013, 21:08
No way it was a "Dust" issue!! It leveled a 6 BLOCK radius area!!! The buildings weren't that big to propagate that much of a blast from dust!! It was felt 70 miles to the North in Arlington!!
Later
Martin
The Reaper
04-17-2013, 21:15
Fertilizer could mean Ammonium Nitrate, which has a tendency to blow.
TR
Reports on local TV say anhydrous ammonia. Nasty stuff to work with. But regardless, Richard is right. I would bet anyone whose father grew up pre WWII can tell stories. I believe we just "celebrated" an anniversary for the explosion in, I think, Baytown. This started on a ship. Hundreds killed. 1948 I think
This was a big one....blast felt in Southern Dallas.
http://fox17online.com/2013/04/17/explosion-outside-waco-texas-injuries-reported/#axzz2Qm9qqpnX
UPDATE: EMS Director Says 60 To 70 Dead In West Explosion
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Explosion-Injuries-Reported-At-West-Fertilizer-Plant-203505331.html?mobile=yes&device=ipad
Now saying ammonia nitrate---it is getting worser and worser. There are certain types of fire, if you use the the wrong extingushing agent, can get really shitty really quick. Not saying that happened here, but it is a possibility.
Rest in Peace. Prayers out for the deceased and their families :(
Surgicalcric
04-17-2013, 22:23
Terrible situation indeed.
Prayers out to family and friends of the affected and for the Emergency Services workers as they get this under control.
Footage of the explosion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROrpKx3aIjA&feature=youtu.be
This was a big one....blast felt in Southern Dallas.
I definitely felt it at my house. Our little crew at work is seeing about going out there to help. From what I've heard they are having a lot of people show up to help without being asked.
My family is going to go give blood today...lots are injured and wounded.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the the first responders on the scene and all the people of West, Texas.
Dohhunter
04-18-2013, 07:16
Footage of the explosion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROrpKx3aIjA&feature=youtu.be
Not the smartest move... To film. In place. Within sight......of a fertilizer plant on fire. I suppose hindsight is wonderful.
I hope that gentleman's child is ok.
rubberneck
04-18-2013, 07:36
Not the smartest move... To film. In place. Within sight......of a fertilizer plant on fire. I suppose hindsight is wonderful.
I hope that gentleman's child is ok.
You're assuming that man knew what that facility is used for. I hope is just a bad coincidence but tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the bloody end to the Branch Davidian face off not to far from that plant.
You're assuming that man knew what that facility is used for. I hope is just a bad coincidence but tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the bloody end to the Branch Davidian face off not to far from that plant.
Really? Did you just infer a conspiracy?
rubberneck
04-18-2013, 07:47
Really? Did you just infer a conspiracy?
No. It's doubtful that this is anything other than an industrial accident, but with the plants proximity to the compound and the accident happening the day before the 20th anniversary it isn't inconceivable that this is the result of a criminal act. I really hope it's the former not the later.
Dohhunter
04-18-2013, 09:17
Three to four first responders missing.
Prayers to all involved.
Prayers out for the victims, first responders and all touched by this tragic event.
This is the daughter of a close friend and her dog, Tucker. She's a firefighter and live rescuer, and Tucker's her rescue dog. She and her firefighter husband live near Denton, and she and Tucker went to West last night to try to help in finding and rescuing people involved in the explosion. It is a difficult and often very grim task, but as a team they are great at finding hidden survivors.
I wish them and all the others involved in that tragedy all the best as they now go about the grim business of cleaning up after such a terrible situation.
Richard :munchin
This is the daughter of a close friend and her dog, Tucker. She's a firefighter and live rescuer, and Tucker's her rescue dog. She and her firefighter husband live near Denton, and she and Tucker went to West last night to try to help in finding and rescuing people involved in the explosion. It is a difficult and often very grim task, but as a team they are great at finding hidden survivors.
I wish them and all the others involved in that tragedy all the best as they now go about the grim business of cleaning up after such a terrible situation.
Richard :munchin
God Speed to her and her fuzzy partner!
Stargazer
04-18-2013, 10:53
My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected. Not a good day.
dollarbill
04-18-2013, 11:16
God bless to all. It's been a hell of a week.
MiTTMedic
04-18-2013, 11:57
A report that says 2 EMT's perished
http://www.kens5.com/news/Powerful-explosion-rocks-small-town-near-Waco-multiple-injuries-reported-203510211.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_nitrate
As though some of us "old timers" didn't know from Chemistry class. It appears that once they may have started putting water on it, there was no turning back. IMHO.
God bless em!
There is a possibility the company did not report the presence of AN, only the Anhydrous Ammonia. They were fined for not properly labeling a truck not long ago. These men responded with the best training and equipment they could afford. God Bless em. Water may have been the only option they had. Lots of small rural departments don't have foam capacity yet.
My Granddad was in the Texas City fire. He wouldn't even talk about it. I think that was ammonium nitrate...
Prayers out to the families and the injured.
The Reaper
04-19-2013, 16:25
My Granddad was in the Texas City fire. He wouldn't even talk about it. I think that was ammonium nitrate...
Prayers out to the families and the injured.
Yes, it was, and it was 100 times the AN that exploded in West.
Largest industrial accident in US history.
TR
My Granddad was in the Texas City fire. He wouldn't even talk about it. I think that was ammonium nitrate...
Prayers out to the families and the injured.
They had a special on that incident recently--the thing that really got me was the now older lady talking about waving good bye to her father, a volunteer fire fighter as he raced to the fire. It was the last time she saw him. I wonder how many children had the same experience yesterday? I wonder what those same FFers thoughts were as they raced to the fire knowing their children were only bloclks away?
A Tin Foil asks an interesting question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2uFOUpIhzE
medic&commo
04-20-2013, 07:57
Got to admit, when I heard about the explosion I too thought about it being another attack.
In any case, my prayers and thoughts are with the injured & families of the deceased.
And my thanks to the first responders for answering the call, despite the danger.
m&c