NPR: Oil Refinery On Fire, Blackout Preventing Water Pressure

[DUreader]

Fire Department Having Trouble Fighting Fire

Detroit Area

Looking For Link

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-blackout-marathon-explosion,0,4027999.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

Michigan Residents Flee Refinery Blast



MELVINDALE, Mich. -- An explosion rocked the
Marathon Oil refinery, causing police to evacuate
hundreds of people who lived nearby. Officials
said the blast was linked to the nation's massive
power outage.

The Thursday evening explosion occurred in one
of the plant's vessels -- smoke stacks that can
be seen burning off gases produced by the plant,
Melvindale Fire Chief Sam Pedron said.

Pedron said the widespread power outage that
spread to parts of Michigan affected a pump at
the 183-acre complex, which produces gasoline as well as jet and other
fuels. That caused a buildup of pressure which ultimately triggered the
explosion, Pedron said.

Unsure if another explosion was possible or if the gasses were toxic,
officials evacuated one square-mile around the plant. Fires of the
company's other stacks flared to try to clear the facility of excess gas
and smoke.

[pw]

1. Sure, blame it on the blackout

You wouldn't think, say, that it was a good idea to design a chemical plant to either operate or shut down safely in the case of power interruptions, now would you?

Who needs terrorists when we have bozos like these?

[jayfish]

2. Anyone Care To Guess...

what the price of gas will be in MI by the end of the weekend?

My guess is $2.01.

Jay

[sal]

3. US Oil likes to spark their own plants

That's what they do down here in Houston. Phillips, Marathon, Goodyear, others in Pasadena get old, and they are so dirty, hazardous, and expensive to overhaul, it becomes easier to let them burn to a crisp after an "accident." Obviously, Detroit firefighters cannot put this one out. Coincidence? I wonder how old that Marathon plant is?

As for the people that die, they are mostly contractors and only covered under workers comp, which only pays a 100K or so Texas for a work-place death. They are barred from suing otherwise.

[shirlden]

4. Here in Ohio we fought

the Marathon-Ashland company's pipeline being built through the most delicate and beautiful part of our state. We lost, of course, thanks to Senator Voinovich and Shrub, but learned a lot. For instance, Marathon has one of the worst safety records of any oil company in the world. Ask me if I am surprised they had "another" explosion". These people are ruthless liers and here in Ohio we can attest to that.

:argh:

[Shadder]

6. Ohio...Beautiful ?

Oh, you must be refering to the "Welcome to Michigan" sign :)

[QuietStorm]

5. all coincidence I am sure

while those bozos were playing around with Lakani! What next anyone want to take bets. I guess something has to come west next. Some innocuous but odd disaster. (Fema is going to get to these their mandatory detention centers yet -- sarcasm)