Has anyone asked the question about arson in reference to the West Fertilizer Co explosion?

[Ellipsis]

The timing is pretty funky you have to admit.

How did the fire start? Anyone know?

[hepkat]

1. I'm sure the media have and will ask this question until it's answered.

No way to know until they can investigate.

[Ellipsis]

5. There's all ready an extensive wiki page up... cause is currently unknown

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

On April 17, 2013, at the West Fertilizer Company[1] plant in West, Texas (a city in McLennan County near Waco, Texas), an explosion occurred at 7:50 p.m. CDT (00:50 UTC, April 18).[2] Early media reports indicate mass damage to buildings and heavy casualties. The cause of the blast is currently unknown, and the number of injured and dead are not yet known with accuracy.[3][4][5][6][7]

According to a witness reported in the The Dallas Morning News, the plant first caught fire, then exploded as firefighters were attempting to douse the flames.[8]

The plant is owned by Adair Grain Inc. Adair received an air quality permit as a fertilizer mixing and storage facilty from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in December 2006, issued after Adair was investigated for failure to secure a permit, when a neighbor complained about an ammonia smell coming from the plant. Adair reportedly stored 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which along with nitric acid, is used to produce ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer, pesticide, and rodenticide. [9]

[Ellipsis]

2. Iwas just curious if anything was out there.. like a mechanical fire or something...

that got out of control.

[MrSlayer]

3. It's possible.

Someone could have known that they'd be ignorant enough to pour water on it and cause this massive explosion.

I'm going to say probably not though.

[Recursion]

4. Or why they used a water based suppression system with anhydrous ammonia?

Or why a nursing home was built near a fertilizer plant?

[Horse with no Name]

6. I am watching local television coverage

and apparently there was a fire at the plant a few weeks ago that caused evacuation of the middle school.

[justice1]

8. Nobody was on duty when the accident occurred. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

9. I am sure

Fox News will report someone is in custody already..its how they seem to roll now. The Stupid Network.

[LeftInTX]

11. They'll just blame it on Islamic terrorists and President Obama

And throw in a south-of-the-border connection for good measure.

[MrsBrady]

10. it's a tiny town

and probably an industrial accident of some kind.

volunteer fire fighters, about 5 or 6 men, were fighting the fire when it exploded.
they are calling them unaccounted for, but they are likely dead.


http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Explosion-Rocks-Fertilizer-Plant-During-Fire-203508011.html

[Ellipsis]

12. "They add, however, that it can explode in certain concentrations inside a container."

when a neighbor complained about an ammonia smell coming from the plant. Adair reportedly stored 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia.

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. Cousin Earl inspected the plant

not long ago and told his uncle he and Cindy sue would see them soon and the plant is A OK.

Not arson, malfeasance is more likely.

[tanyev]

14. My question is why were homes, apartments, schools,

a hospital and nursing home built so damn close to the plant?

[LuvNewcastle]

15. I'll bet some money changed hands somewhere along the line.

Around here, speculators buy a lot of cheap land, get approval from the city or county (that's is the part where most of the palms are greased, and then they build their cheap little shit-boxes and sell them. If you're looking for someone to blame, your best bet is to look at the county supervisors who approved the project(s).