Blast rips hole in Miami condo

[Herman Munster]

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070116/BREAKINGNEWS/70116030/1086

A man and woman renting a two-bedroom Miami condo awoke to a thunderous explosion this morning and discovered a gaping hole in their living room wall.

No one was hurt but several floors of the building on NW Seventh Street had to be evacuated.

The 5 a.m. blast apparently originated in the refrigerator of the fifth floor unit. It was followed 20 minutes later by a second, smaller explosion.

Police and firefighters reported finding a ''smorgasbord of chemicals'' inside the refrigerator. The chemicals were stored in glass jars.

Ignatius Carroll, a Miami police spokesman, said the owner of the unit has had run-ins with police in the past regarding his handling of chemicals. The man, who was renting the unit, is not a chemist, Carroll said. He did not immediately identify the man.

[ck4829]

1. Storing chemicals in the fridge in your condo

Not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, eh?

[tech3149]

8. I've got 0.5 kg of potassium nitrate in my fridge right now

It's been safe there for the last 3 years (if not more). The tightly controlled temp would be the biggest advantage for long-term storage for most chemicals. The biggest problem is dealing with elevated humidity, easily handled with a desiccant. I also have a decent assortment of acetone, denatured alcohol, lacquer thinner and lacquer-based paints. There's no reason they can't be stored and used safely in a residential environment. Without knowing what specific chemicals are involved, I won't comment any further on the wisdom of his choice. I won't pass judgment until I know more. There are some people that aren't safe in the kitchen chopping vegetables. At least vegetables don't catch fire and put your neighbor out of house and home.

[Ron Green]

2. Florida again. I'm keepin' track.

[Poll_Blind]

5. LOL! Too true. n/t

PB

[YDogg]

3. damn leftovers

[brook]

4. Wonder if the guy has

a cooking show? :shrug:

[Poll_Blind]

6. If you need to keep the chemicals in your refridgerator, you should...

...not be keeping chemicals. I have a library in my house and it doubles as a darkroom. I've got some of the developing chemicals there...nice cool dark place, no big whoop. I'm not sure what kind of chemicals you'd need to keep refridgerated. I understand of course that Miami's going to be alot hotter than Oregon. Still, I keep thinking that if they were chemicals which are volatile enough to need to be refrigerated in Miami winter (for instance, it's 75 degrees today) are still more volatile than you should been keeping in the main body of a home.

If only because of the potential for fumes overcoming you...

PB

[edbermac]

7. Rush must have farted again.

Talk about a weapon of mass destruction...

[originalpckelly]

9. Damn, that's some powerful chili!

:nuke:

[AnnieBW]

10. Call Horatio!

Get Horatio Caine on the case! He'll take off his sunglasses and solve the case in 45 minutes!