Explosions Rock Fort Worth Industrial Complex

[mourningdove92]

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Several explosions are occurring and flames are shooting hundreds of feet into the air from a chemical plant in the industrial section of north Fort Worth.

The 4-alarm fire has engulfed the Valley Solvents and Chemicals plant in the 2500 block of Northeast 33rd at Bethlehem, just east of Interstate 35-W and west of Sylvania, and several blocks north of 28th Street.

Thick, black smoke is spewing into the sky and can be seen for several miles.

It is uncertain whether the flames are toxic. Firefighters have been instructed to stay back for their safety.

Witnesses described the ground shaking during a series of explosions.

Stay with NBC 5 and nbc5i.com for more details in this breaking story.
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/4782146/detail.html

I am on duty at one of the major hospitals. No casualties sent to us so far.

[eyepaddle]

1. Let's hope things stay quiet at the hospital

The potential for catastrophe at a solvent plant is staggering.

[displacedtexan]

2. I haven't seen any survivors on CNN or MSNBC.

Usually, you see people milling around when the helicopter camera pans out.

Maybe they all got out before the initial explosion. I hope so.

That's close to Mt. Olivet cemetery, isn't it?

I'm from Ft. Worth, but I don't know much about that area.

[booksenkatz]

5. Fort Worther here, too, displacedtexan!

:hi:

I grew up in southwest Ft. Worth, moved out of state in 1987 when I was 27. No matter what Bush does to the nation and to the world, Texas will always tug at my heart -- I refuse to be ashamed of my home state. I love Ft. Worth and accept her bad along with her good.

Anyway, will certainly be monitoring this situation closely, it sounds awful!
:(

[WhiteTara]

14. chimpy is a carpet bagger

he dad only came to Texas to escape personal income tax. His son is a thief who stole a great state from an incredible Democrat Governor

[Ian David]

3. Article now says 3 taken to JPS Hospital

Thank god for tort reform though, yes? Otherwise, that poor chemical company could lose a lot of money if they were negligent.

Seriously though, I hope you guys all get through this and nobody else gets hurt.

[jayfish]

4. Anyone Got An Address For A Live Feed? -NT-

Jay

[booksenkatz]

6. There's one at the link, check it out. NT

[shadowknows69]

7. this wasn't an attack

even if it was an attack.

[jayfish]

8. Wasn't There Some Industrial Explosions In Texas Not...

to long ago? I'll have to look it up.

Jay

[jayfish]

11. Here It Is: Investigators Probe Cause of Texas Refinery Blast

http://www.searchenterprises.com/inthenews/story76.htm

Strange thing is that apparently two groups claimed responsibility for the blasts. The claims were dismissed.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=two+groups+claim+texas+blasts&btnG=Search

[Igel]

13. When there was the Northeast blackout a couple of years

ago and the reports were of some sort of explosion near Niagara, an Islamist group took responsibility, threatening the usual 'gates of hell opening', etc. The report showed up on some British server frequented by people claiming to staff the gates of hell, apparently.

Turns out there was no explosion, the cause was found to be elsewhere, and the claim missed the news cycle completely. Yawn.

[jayfish]

9. Thanks. -NT-

Jay

[jburton]

10. This things gonna burn forever

It's on live on all the local channels here (Dallas) and it's a bunch of chemical tanks. There are still fiery explosions happening, even now (hour and a half later)

Methanol, Hydrocloric Acid, and other things were listed.

"Valley Solvent Company"

Nearby schools evacuated (staff only - students haven't started the year yet)

It's real close to I-35W, which is now a parking lot.

[bemildred]

16. Yeah, who needs all that environmental regulation stuff anyway? nt

[tammywammy]

17. I live in Arlington

I took Green Oaks/Eastchase to I-30 today heading for work. I could see the smoke. The smoke looked pretty bad, even at that distance.

Yeah, and it'll be awhile before it burns out. Good thing there's a bit of wind today to disperse the chemicals.

[mourningdove92]

12. update

All employees are now accounted for. My hospital only got one patient. 3 others went to JPS.

Wow, how amazing that only 4 people were injured.

[jsamuel]

15. great!

[LanternWaste]

18. Glad I left the office a wee bit early today....

From the thread, at least I know I'm not the only dem in Ft. Worth. Glad I left the office a wee bit early today....

[don954]

19. my home town, hopefully NOT under siege.

and now I live about 1 mile from Port Everglades, where they have a big storage tank farm, I am within the primary blast radius if a LPG tanker ever goes off here. I hope no one is targeting these things... Right now there are several helicopters orbiting Port Everglades. Anyone know if a home-sec alert was put out? I’m getting pretty nervous here..

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. there will be hundreds of cases of cancer in the coming years due to this