BREAKING NEWS - MASSIVE EXPLOSION AND FIRE - NJ [Actually, Staten Island NY: AM]

ME | 2/21/03 | SELF

[Prince Charles]

Last Monday there was a large fire at the Amoco refinery in Whiting, Indiana (near Chicago). Today a refinery burns in NY. Is there a pattern here?

[SarahW]

The mullah was raving, hysterical. I couldn't believe my eyes.

[steveegg]

That's what FNC and I get for trusting Reuters. I should've known better.

There are no injuries reported so far. I would expect that to change, though.

[mware]

Prayers being sent to members of USCG fighting this fire.

[NittanyLion]

And remember they also hit that French tanker the Limbourg.

Yep. Here's an article.

[Sally II]

thanks for that list of streaming news stations... out here in California, the three major networks still haven't mentioned the fire.

[mhking]

Live Stream: WCBS-TV
CNN Affiliate Feed/IBSYS Web Sites

[js1138]

When the terrorists actually strike, i.e. here and in Isreal, does it ever look like like it could possibly be confused with an industrial accident? - or aren't they pretty obvious?

That's my point. There are lots of industrial accidents of various sizes. Why would terrorists do something that could be confused with an industrial accident? Kind of defeats the purpose.

[michigander]

[CanisLupus]

Nice view from Elizabeth

[mabelkitty]

Remember last week during Valentine's Day there was a small boat floating around the Golden Gate Bridge and the cops were investingating it? The boat just disappeared and nobody knew what happened.

Now we may have figured it out!

[cgk]

I had the same reaction. I was walking through the room and stopped, trying to figure out what it was - or WHEN it was. I was thinking it was a live feed, with the terror arrests yestrday fresh in my mind. It was terrifying, even though it was on "TV". I couldn't believe (though I am not surprised by much anymore) the pitch was absolutely reminiscent of Hitler.

[Sicon]

It seems quite unlikely that we're looking at terrorism here. Terrorists want large numbers of casualties, much more than structural damage, so blowing up an oil refinery is not really their style.

There are reports that the fire broke out on a barge that was refueling at the refinery. I'm betting that this was an accident, just like the fire in Rhode Island.

[Solamente]

"Verrazzano Narrows Bridge still closed."

IT IS OPEN AND THERE IS TRAFFIC. Mark the time of my post. I'm looking out my window at the bridge!

[Unknown Freeper]

I'm near the Watchung Mountains. I can see the smoke from the window here at work. Please keep those reports coming.

[aristeides]

German sabotage was behind the Black Tom explosion of 1916 in Bayonne, NJ.

[arm958]

Last Monday there was a large fire at the Amoco refinery in Whiting, Indiana (near Chicago). Today a refinery burns in NY. Is there a pattern here?

Yep, they're both refineries.

[RummyChick]

I can't figure out why they would do it. Unless the hope would be that it would spread on to the Island.

Maybe just to terrorize us and cost us money but it appears just to be an accident.

[StriperSniper]

That should be repeated hourly on every channel.

[michigander]

[xzins]

It's an awesome forum, isn't it?

[cgk]

FNC's first reports were also that it was an oil refinery. As are many of the news stories still being posted here. We have to go by what we're given, unfortunately.

[Petronski]

It was an accidental spark.

Wow, Quincy, your investigation is complete already!

[tubebender]

My wife just said she found a use for the duct tape and plastic sheeting...:-)

[RummyChick]

Well someone just said in essence that there is always a worry about diversions. He didn't use that word but that is what he meant. This will take alot of resources and they wouldn't have enough to cover another incident.

[TonyInOhio]

I'm near the Watchung Mountains.

The Martians ravaged that area in 1938, according to Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast. Coincidence? :-)

Tony

[mikegi]

I don't know how they'll even begin to fight this thing. I guess you start on the land and try to isolate it on the water where it can't do anymore damage. Looks like the fuel is flowing out further on the water. The heat must be incredible.

[steveegg]

Got it. The fire appears to have split between the land and the sea.

[TWRepublican]

OK now, who will be the first liberal idiot dumba$$ to blame Bush?

[condi2008]

Wasnt there talk of the three Iraqi ships with WMD floating around?
Yes... in the Indian Ocean last I heard.

I hate to be paranoid, but if this were a "dirty" terrorist explosion, the smoke would be the biggest danger, wouldn't it?

[Alberta's Child]

The first person to post a picture of Tourist Guy in front of that fire should be banished forever.

[cgk]

Wow, where do you live? We're at 1.79, 1.89, and 1.99 if not higher here in So. CA.

[Monty22]

Lock n load people. It's getting close to cleaning house time.

[steveegg]

My wife just said she found a use for the duct tape and plastic sheeting...:-)

Do I really want to know this one?

[mhking]

I hate to be paranoid, but if this were a "dirty" terrorist explosion, the smoke would be the biggest danger, wouldn't it?

It's not just you - I'm scared of the same thing. This would fit the M.O. and the model. We're less than an hour in. Keep your heads up everyone.

[Alberta's Child]

Sounds like someone may be confusing the Goethals Bridge and/or the Outerbridge Crossing with the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The VNB is on the opposite side of Staten Island from where this fire is located.

[P.O.E.]

Attention all jokesters:

There are millions of school kids, working people, family members etc. in the area.

[mhking]

The first person to post a picture of Tourist Guy in front of that fire should be banished forever.

Yeah, but you know it's coming...[sigh]

[Dog]

Fox has video of the fire it looks like 2 fires..

[Aggie Mama]

I was cooking dinner at the time and had to stop and see what the heck was on tv. It reminded me of a cult. A very scary, bizzare cult.

[Bahbah]

"Yet another fire!"

Wrapping my beenie in tinfoil - sabotage?

[js1138]

Thanks for the picture. Odd, but it's reassuring.

[Yakima]

From www.1010wins.com:

VERRAZANO NARROWS BRIDGE +LOWER LEVEL CLOSED EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES DUE TO THE REFINERY FIRE+..UPPER REMAINS OPEN BUT IS SUBJECT TO CLOSURE+.

[P.O.E.]

News says the lower level of the Verrazano is closed.

[TBall]

"Go fill up now!" Ever since we went orange, I have been topping off daily.

[HairOfTheDog]

during Valentine's Day there was a small boat floating around the Golden Gate Bridge and the cops were investingating it? The boat just disappeared and nobody knew what happened.

Oh Dear..... Wrong coast. That little Zodiac did not just motor around to Statten Island.

[Hatteras]

"Remember last week during Valentine's Day there was a small boat floating around the Golden Gate Bridge and the cops were investingating it? The boat just disappeared and nobody knew what happened.

Now we may have figured it out!"

What? They through the zodiac over their heads and trekked cross-country to New Jersey? In less than two weeks, even?

[Alberta's Child]

I can see the plume of smoke from Manhattan, and I swear I can see Monica Lewinsky's face in it.

/sarcasm off/

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I hate all this conspiracy crap. Many of you look like idiots. It was an accidental spark. I enjoy this site but all the conspiracy bullsh*t 24/7 makes you all look like kooks.

Give it awhile and let them get worked up. It's real fun when something happens that they don't know a damn thing about and they start "explaining their BS theories." I have low blood pressure and these threads help keep it normal without medication.