Fuck. The explosion in West, TX: Ammonium Nitrate + water

[rainbow4321]

A local person there was interviewed by our Dallas newspaper and said the initial fire was made waaaayyyyy worse when water was being used to try and put it out.

He referred to the OKC bombing chemicals...but this is on a plant-ful of it and not a truck. I am sure there are DUers who know more about that chemical reference and how true it is

The blasts were felt all the way up in the Dallas suburbs of Arlington and Mesquite.

Nursing home and apartments next door to the plant have exploded with people trapped.

Please, people, I have already seen "jokes" about "shit hitting, etc....".

This is no time for jokes. This town is now all but leveled and there are people trapped in burning buildings around the plant.

Here is the Twitter account of the Waco Trib.

https://twitter.com/wacotrib

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. That's what caused the 1947 Texas City ship explosions.

They were loaded with ammonium nitrate and high pressure steam was pumped into the holds.
Wrong decision.
Worst industrial disaster in the history of the United States. Over 600 dead. My parents told me about it, because I was not born yet in 1947.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_Disaster

Texas City is just across the Galveston Causeway from Galveston Island, TX, where the 1900 hurricane caused the largest man-made disaster loss of life in the history of the United States.
8,000 deaths.

And those are about fifty miles down the road from Houston.

[susanna]

71. Your post reminded me of something I saw when traveling a couple years ago.

It was in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My husband and I were touring Titanic grave sites in multiple cemeteries, and kept coming across the same date (12/6/17), for many people, over and over again, and, obvious to us - it was not the date of Titanic.

There were entire families buried in all cemeteries with that date, usually close to one another. We couldn't figure it out until a local at a museum helped us out. An explosion of high intensity in a narrow shipping channel leveled an entire neighborhood in Halifax.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion

For some reason, and I have no idea why, this came to mind as I am reading the stories of the Texas explosion; not sure what to think just yet - I'm not a speculator by nature - but forever, the place where it happened is changed. It can't help but be so.

Long story short, prayers and peace to those in West, Texas.

[Horse with no Name]

6. Local blog

I am sure I can find a link soon

UPDATE: Authorities are concerned about a possible second explosion at another Fertilizer Plant. The Football Field that was being used as a Triage center is being evacuated.

The injured are being taken to Waco Area hospitals. "All hands on deck"

[Tx4obama]

9. Link below to VIDEO

http://www.kwkt.com/news/caught-camera-fertilizer-plant-explosion-near-waco

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I am listening to them se water

Not quite the right decision, they need a hazmat team, and specialized chemicals...

As to the jokes, stay away from those of us who have been in nasty situations.

It's probably a small vol FD...and hey don't have the money for the specialized crap.

[rainbow4321]

4. DFW fire units are on the way

Problem is, the main highway they would take (I 35)--southbound---is now clogged with backup traffic

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. That's always a problem

Don't be too shocked if military FD gets underway as well as USAR teams (Urban Search and Rescue)

[Horse with no Name]

8. Closest is Ft. Hood

and they have to come up 35 too.

When that highway gridlocks...you don't go anywhere.

A friend of mine was killed on the curve in Corsicana. It took hours to cut her out of the car
and both ways were shut down over 6 hours.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I know...I wonder if they will try

Air opps and t's night...cal fire is grounded at night

[Horse with no Name]

13. I am not sure about Central Texas

but I know West and East Texas have bad weather tonight.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I can tell you

The amount of crap moving in is impressive, from dispatch

Command was moved from the field though

[Horse with no Name]

7. They are going to have to call up the fire departments to the East

they will probably get there quicker.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I am looking for map...trying to see how close this is

To other states...they might have to fly in gear, and specialized chemicals.

The closest large city is DFW...

Here in San Diego, San Diego City has a hazmat unit, and a couple airport FF units. That's the kind of gear/chemicals they need...we have two more due to military airports...how close is Travis?

[Horse with no Name]

14. Travis County is Austin

which is also down 35.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Was thinking the specialized gear and trained personnel

[Horse with no Name]

17. They can actually head down 45

to Corsicana and then head west on 2114.

Might take a little longer but easier than getting through that logjam.

[tammywammy]

11. Hey, rainbow make sure your windows are closed tonight

The wind is out of the south, don't want that smoke getting in your house.

[rainbow4321]

19. Will do

Thank you.

People may want to turn off their a/c's also to keep outside air from coming thru their vents, maybe? Just a thought.

[tammywammy]

21. And bring pets inside!

NBC just showed video of the explosion. A viewer was filming the fire and caught the explosion. Oh goodness.

They just said that all helicopters are being grounded.

[Horse with no Name]

18. Carter Bloodcare is requesting donations. n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

24. I'll schedule it tomorrow.

I'm O- and always in demand.

[tammywammy]

22. I know this will be deleted

But go fuck yourself.

Just so you know they're already reporting 200 injured and 40 critically.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

25. they don't know the diff between "sewed" and "sowed" either.

They are so tacky.

Texas bashing is an entrenched sport at DU. We're not all idiots.

[tammywammy]

28. Oh, Manifestor you know we're just too stupid

That's why we haven't left OR why we don't live in the only "okay" place in Texas - Austin.

We're all just dumb fucks that live here.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

34. Yep. We are.

I have 3 college degrees. My parents stressed education as a value.
I have lived in Texas my entire life.
I have never owned a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, or a pickup truck.
I hate country western "music".
I hate sports.
I can't eat spicy food or barbecue due to food allergies.
I have gone to the symphony, opera, and rock and jazz concerts for decades in Houston.

[tammywammy]

36. ...

[sabrina 1]

26. According to Mother Jones on twitter at least 70 dead. This is awful. I just heard about it.

Mother Jones ?@MotherJones 42s
Reports of terrible casualties in West, Tx, fertilizer plant explosion. @KHOU reporting 70 confirmed dead, 100s injured. Developing..

Those poor people.

[tammywammy]

31. West is a small town of 2600 people.

75-100 homes and businesses damaged. They just showed an apartment building where the second story is collapsed.

[sabrina 1]

38. I just saw that reports of a whole apartment comples destroyed. That may be the one

you are talking about. Found this photo on twitter and it does look bad for those in the building:



There are survivors apparently who have been transported to other locations. A nightmare for that town. That is a very small town!

[tammywammy]

39. It's horrific.

[AtheistCrusader]

65. FFFFFffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuck. Not only will that explosion have registered on seism

ometers...

It got pretty high on the MMIS scale too..

Wow. They need all the help they can get in there now.

[pinboy3niner]

33. Yours is an appropriate reply to a heartless comment in the middle of a human tragedy

I don't blame you at all. The comment was

[tammywammy]

35. ...

[pinboy3niner]

41. ... and the right call was made

Kinda restores one's faith in the jury system.

[tammywammy]

52. Wow, 6-0 to hide.

Thank you DU!

[Jamastiene]

40. Well said.

Texas seems to be a target on DU an awful lot. The south is too. I would be against it under ordinary everyday discussions on DU, but when people have been killed and injured and there are still people trapped, it is even worse. It is the lowest of the low to kick someone while they are down like that. If your post gets deleted, it won't be with my vote. I'd vote to leave your post up and delete the other one.

[tammywammy]

43. Texas does get shit on a lot here

From wishing for hurricanes to hit us, everything is our own fault, we're all just morons that don't move, etc.

So here's some more info for the others that think all us Texans are too stupid to leave this state:
133 patients were in the nursing home that was severely damaged. Oh and the mayor is a volunteer firefighter and was "about a block away" heading to help put out the fire when the explosion occurred.


And to you Jamastiene - thank you. :hugs:

[spiderpig]

72. I lived in TX 30 years ago, and usually enjoy bugging Texans

about sports teams, Dr. Pepper, big hats...etc. But not tonight.

I'm totally standing with Texans in this time of crisis.

Best to you, tammywammy.

[Horse with no Name]

23. West, Texas is a town of Czech immigrants

In Texas, a lot of the towns grew up around railroad communities.

The town dates back to 1892.

This can be blamed on a need for jobs...and selling jobs in the form of fertilizer plants and such.

And deregulation.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

27. 70 people confirmed dead according to the RT tweet.

[Horse with no Name]

29. Did you see this?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151381747601545

[tammywammy]

32. They showed that on NBC

I was surprised his window didn't blow in. Oh goodness.

edited to add: NBC 5 in DFW http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Explosion-Rocks-Fertilizer-Plant-During-Fire-203508011.html

Helicopters have to stay above 3000 ft.

[intheflow]

37. rainbow4321, I'm so sorry.

Is this close to you? I'm thinking within two hours. Will you be doing any coordination on relief? If you do, please let us know how we can help.

It's been a long time since I've seen you on the board. I wish it were under a happier post.

[rainbow4321]

46. I'm in a northern DFW suburb...so, yeah, about 2 hours

Didn't feel the blast like other Metroplex folks but I'm in a 3rd floor apartment and not a house.

I work in a Dallas hospital but it is a VA facility that takes only vets and not the general populaton but our facility serves the entire TX area as well as Oklahoma and we get vets from all over TX/OK . As of right now, there is no call out going to us that the facility is on alert.

Kinda worried about the whole wind thing, though...years ago when there were those really bad fires in *Mexico* our area was covered with the soot that was blown up to us, so compared to that and given TX wind history the West/Waco area is just a hop/skip/jump from us.

Taking the needed precautions..apt closed up, dog has already been walked for the night.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Hazmat is on scene

Ok, that is good

[Horse with no Name]

44. They have just asked everyone to stay off of I35

and leave it open for Emergency vehicles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Good, listening to the scanner

Oh and civilian truck coming in with diesel

[Horse with no Name]

47. I got an alert from Scott and White Hospital

and they are in the process of accepting patients.

And they realllllllly need blood.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. They will

Just a sneaky, but the national system will go online in the next two hours and blood will be flown in, including as far as California.

[Horse with no Name]

49. Yeah no doubt

But we need to replenish it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. I know

[LeftInTX]

51. This is just awful

I first heard about this town West, Texas from an episode of Meteor Men.

It is devastating.

I don't know if fighting fire by air is possible tonight, it is overcast over most of central Texas.

[Renew Deal]

53. I don't think I've ever seen such a big explosion in my life

Other than nukes and nuke tests. That explosion was unbelievable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Don't get close to a refinery

This is small compared to some of those.

But these plants are very energetic

[AtheistCrusader]

66. I remember video of the Sendai quake, some guy went outside and filmed the refinery shaking

from a point that was just about within the shadow of the plant.

I puckered just watching the video. Then again, he was so close, if the worst had happened, it wouldn't have mattered if he ran or not.

[MrSlayer]

54. It's inexcusable that every worker and resident didn't know this.

it should have been common knowledge around a plant like this. This explosion should have never happened.

[Rowdyboy]

60. I really don't understand how this could have happened...I'm one of the most clueless people you'll

ever meet and I know better than to do something that stupid.

[AtheistCrusader]

67. Nitrate fertilizers were a component in the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing.

Nitrates are very energetic. Used in things like TNT.

Good fertilizer, but under the right conditions, it will go BANG like you would not believe. Apparently those conditions were present in West Texas tonight.

[Rowdyboy]

70. Big time

[Hekate]

56. Oh my Gods. I am so sorry.

My heart goes out to all those folks. How dare anyone make light of it or cast blame on the residents?

[AtheistCrusader]

68. I don't think anyone is frustrated with the residents.

That was mostly, or all aimed at the corporation running the plant.

That sort of industrial site, with that potential to 'go big' should have community evacuation plans, drills, and contingency equipment, just like a nuclear power plant.

They apparently don't have the right fire fighting equipment on site. There is speculation that using standard water-based stuff may have even contributed to the explosion. (Unproven)

[Hekate]

74. Nadin's been referring to a volunteer FD -- they might not have had appropriate training at all

I agree that there should have been all sorts of preparation in case of disaster, including a professionally trained fire department that would know not to pour water on a chemical plant fire. This is just awful.

[AtheistCrusader]

75. It's possible that water might be irrelevant.

I would hate to think that they would be in any way blamed for this, even if they were set up for failure by the company running the site.

[Hekate]

76. We'll know more in the coming days, it's true...

[Cha]

57. I'm so sorry, rainbow

[davidpdx]

58. Hopefully they have figured out what they need to put out the fire at the plant

It sounds like water was a bad idea.

[rainbow4321]

59. Multiple first responders (fire fighters) unaccounted for..they were fighting the initial fire

They would have been at the plant when the followup explosion happened.
No telling at this point how many showed at the plant to try and put out the first fire.

[davidpdx]

61. That is aweful

Having first responders possibly injured or killed in addition to the people killed at the plant, and killed near the plant increases the tragedy of the situation.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

69. Do you know if it was a volunteer fire dept?

Considering the size of the town I've been assuming so, but I'm often wrong.

[rainbow4321]

73. It is...

West's EMS service is reporting that 2 EMTs, the initial 7 firefighters, and the police officers who initially responded died at the site.

The news is from Twitter but given that the tweet says the news is from West's EMS service I am taking it the horrible numbers are correct.

[MrsBrady]

62. West is served by a volunteer fire department

from listening to the local DFW news...

The Mayor, who I saw in a press conference, was on his way to help fight the fire when
the plant exploded.

He's essentially lucky to be alive. He didn't say it, but he said it by not saying it....the
5 or so guys that were out fighting that fire are dead. Nothing is confirmed yet...but I
don't see how they survived.

So sad.
I live in Fort Worth and have
driven through West many times...and stopped for gas and food along I35
and eaten at the mom and pop places inside of the town. Quaint and interesting town.

I have a friend that grew up in West...I'm waiting to hear from him, hoping his family is ok.

[Bolo Boffin]

63. I'm hearing this was anhydrous ammonia, not ammonium nitrate

The references I've seen to OKC bombs were just about volume of material.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20130417-west-fertilizer-plant-said-in-report-that-it-presented-no-risk.ece

[Spitfire of ATJ]

64. Why is everyone looking at me? I didn't joke about this.