Posted on 09/09/2002 12:07:41 PM PDT by Sweet_Sunflower29
THEODORE, Ala. (AP) - A tank exploded and caught fire at a chemical plant early Monday, producing clouds of acrid smoke, and emergency officials urged nearby residents to stay indoors until the fire died out. No one was injured, officials said.
Fire crews were sent to the INEOS Phenolchemie plant several miles south of Mobile after 1 a.m.
"There were about three explosions and a large fire when we arrived," Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman said.
The blasts apparently involved a tank containing a mixture of acetone and sulfuric acid, Huffman said, but the exact cause of the fire and explosions was not immediately determined.
People south of the plant were urged to stay in their homes or offices, but the advisory was canceled by late morning after the fire burned itself out.
Patrick Earby said he saw thick, dark smoke bellowing from the plant when he drove to his nearby job at about 7:30 a.m.
"It was enough to make you want to roll up the windows," he said.
INEOS Phenolchemie, with headquarters in Germany, is one of the world's largest producers of phenol and acetone, according to the company's Web site.
"Its less than 5miles from Blam. Its also less than 5 miles from My brothers house. I heard about it when I called The American Legion post there to get someones address this morning. From what I understand they still have everyone within a mile of the plant evacuated."
I was by there at about 1:30 PM today and they still had all the roads into the facility blocked off but the main roads in the area have been re-opened by that time, it is still smoking.
The local folks say that they were awakened at about 1:40AM with the boom. I didn't hear a thing.
The local radio said an acetone and a sulfuric tank had exploded. I am impressed with the response that I was still seeing when I went by there. They had the Theodore ship channel blocked off with the 'skimmer things' on the water and a large Coast Guard presence. I'll report any unusual news today from the local 5:00PM news.
I went and looked! ...also, I asked Goober, who works there.<>
A mixture, or a solution? Sounds like something you would be banned from chem lab for doing.
Acetone and Phenol, two different tanks, two different explosions 35 minutes apart. They've dropped the reference to sulfuric.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.