Double explosion rocks Pasadena area plant

ABC 13 Houston ^ | 11/23/01

[Texas Yellow Rose]

ABC13.com
(11/23/01) — A series of explosions, followed by a fire shake Pasadena residents.

There have been two explosions at the Crown Central petroleum plant on 225 and Red Bluff road, just north of Pasadena.

The explosion happened at approximately 8pm Friday. A second explosion, described by witnesses to be much larger than the first, followed about 15 minutes later. The area of the plant involved is the LPG, or liquid petroleum gas, unit.

Both Pasadena and Houston fire departments are on the scene battling the resulting fire. HFD reports the fire is under control.

Pasadena residents have been instructed to shelter in place. The Washburn tunnel has also been closed to traffic.

Reports indicate four people have been injured. One person has been transported to the hospital.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Breaking

[VA Advogado]

There goes the price of gas again!

[xm177e2]

Do you think it's an industry dirty trick to keep the prices up?

[eddie willers]

Do you think it's an industry dirty trick to keep the prices up?

That is a joke.....isn't it?

[Cleburne]

Probably just an accident. Stuff isn't exactly the safest material to work with. Now watch this be part of a greater terror plot!

[spycatcher]

If you mean industry as in "OPEC foriegn national"...yes

[Damocles]

Weren't there some nuts arrested not that long ago with explosives in that area? I swear I read that, I'll see if I can find it...

[VA Advogado]

Do you think it's an industry dirty trick to keep the prices up?

No, I don't think so. But prices do shoot up rather painfully every time one of these refineries blows up.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

I was raised in Pasadena. As a child we had explosions every other week it seemed. As a plant employee, my dad was always on call to fight a fire at any chemical plant in the area. The local news has not broadcast the cause of this one.

[concerned about politics]

Now watch this be part of a greater terror plot!

No, just the wind, or a bird. They caused the engines to fail.

[DallasMike]

Do you think it was an accident? Does the area have a history of problems?

Yes to both. In the days before environmental regulations, it's nickname was Stinkadena.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Yes, you're right...but they caught them and recovered the explosives...

[cardinal4]

Stolen blasting caps from a Houston construction site.About three weeks ago.But wasnt it recovered?

[PoorMuttly]

If you have ever seen the "air" in Pasadena, you will know that IT is what exploded, not the plant. It isn't till sunset every day that you realize that the place is situated at the foot of an extremely tall MOUNTAIN!

[Katlyn]

This plant does have problems. Not usually of this magnitude. Husband and I were less than 1/2 mile from site when 2nd explosion hit. Biggest fireball I have ever seen up close and in person. Prayers for workers and their families.

[Angel]

Wait, it's only 7:48 pm Friday right now. How could there have been an explosion at 8:00 pm?

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Ahhh.... good ole Stink-a-dena. Those were the days! That papermill certainly had an odor!

[Cleburne]

Yeah, for some strange reason refineries and such have a tendecy to blow up in loud fiery explosions. And the stuff the make isn't much more immune to explosions and fire. And even stranger, I've noticed that slickrock desert is strangely immune to arson...