Arkansas - Explosion rocks plant at Conway, area evacuated

Associated Press | January 6, 2004

[HAL9000]

CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - An explosion rocked a chemical plant in Conway on Tuesday, forcing emergency workers to evacuate parts of an industrial park and a nearby daycare center.

"There were some early reports of people with burns but I am not sure of their status," said Conway Police Lt. Chip Stokes.

The explosion occurred at Detco Industries, on the city's south side, near an airport that was shut down temporarily. The state Emergency Management Department said the company makes chemicals for use in industrial maintenance operations.

Black smoke rising from the site could be seen as far away as Little Rock, 30 miles away. The plume was being carried southward on a light north wind.

Stokes said the explosion occurred about 11 a.m. Emergency workers evacuated buildings within a half-mile, including a day-care center.

Stokes there a number of unknown chemicals in the building and that emergency workers were concerned about the possibility of another explosion. Another dozen or so plants are nearby.

"We've got a thick black smoke coming out of the building," Stokes said.

[HAL9000]

Any connection to the unsolved murders of the Detco owners last year?

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[spectre]

I'm listening to this on the radio. It sounds pretty bad. Evacuations...I-40 is going to be closed.. Injuries, and people are breathing this crap. Smoke visible to Little Rock.

sw

[nwctwx]

Bump, saw this on FOX... looks like a massive fire. There are many such plants in that part of Arkansas

[stlnative]

huge black mushroom cloud shown on FOX

[nwctwx]

ping

[Peach]

Probably an industrial accident but will keep an eye on the news.

[HAL9000]

Arkansas Times - Killings in Conway - The Detco Murders

[null and void]

ping

[nwctwx]

Probably so, unless the other 12 in the area go up soon ;)

[TheBattman]

[Peach]

Regardless, it sounds like a horrible incident.

Even if it was terrorism, we'd never hear about it...

[woofie]

I have relatives close to there

[Peach]

Hope they are okay, woofie.

[TheBattman]

EXPLOSIONS IN CONWAY, EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY

There have been explosions in Conway at Detco Industries in the Industrial Park area in Conway.

Two people were evaluated at Conway Regional Medical Center before being air-lifted to Arkansas Childrens Hospital and Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. Three others were air-lifted directly from the scene. Lori Ross, a spokesperson for Conway Regional says that there are many "walking wounded" being treated for injuries as well.

Detco is a manufacturing plant that produces liquid products, powders and packages its own line of aerosol products and other industrial chemicals.

Conway police Lieutenant Chip Stokes says about a dozen businesses are in the same industrial park as Decto and they are being evacuated along with nearby residents.

Several areas of Conway around the explosion have been evacuated. State Police have shut down exit 129 off I-40 in Conway. Ellen Smith Elementary is being evacuated to CHS auditorium, students at the Adult Education Center are being evacuated to Sally Cone Elementary an AmTran is being evacuated.

The second picture is the view from Little Rock....

The story and pictures are from http://www.kthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=8249

[nwctwx]

Yes, it is horrible no matter the circumstance.

There was a chemical plant explosion last week if i recall. Anyone hear followup on that? I am sure these accidents are fairly common, everyones awareness to it is just heightened now.

[appalachian_dweller]

Looks to me like a really bad accident.

Another FReeper once said that terror attacks are designed to look like attacks, not accidents.

God forbid AQ get off another attack, but if they do, we won't need the news telling us it's an attack, we'll already know.

[nwctwx]

very true

[HAL9000]

Looks to me like a really bad accident.

Considering the sordid history of that plant, sabotage and arson should not be ruled out.

[HAL9000]

... an inside job, not al qaeda.