Texas chems distributor hit by explosions, fire; 4 injured

29 July 2005 02:15  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (CNI)--Four workers were slightly injured on Thursday by explosions and fire at a chemicals distribution facility at Fort Worth, Texas, officials said, but the fire has been contained.

 

Kent Worley, spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said a delivery truck apparently was unloading methanol at the Valley Solvents & Chemicals facility four miles north of Fort Worth when a fire erupted.  He said the initial blaze was “quickly followed by multiple explosions.”

 

Worley said three workers at the site sustained minor burns, and the fourth worker injured his back in fleeing the fire.  Damage to the site was extensive, he said.

 

The fire and explosions broke out at around 13:30 local time (19:30 GMT), and the fire was largely contained by 17:30 local time.

 

The Fort Worth Fire Department had 22 trucks or tankers and about 100 firefighters at the scene, Worley said, “but mostly we let the fire burn itself out.”  He said there are still some hot spots burning, but those are expected to fade overnight.

 

Worley said there is no apparent off-site environmental damage.  He said there was some run-off of contaminated water used to contain the blaze, but that run-off also has been contained.

 

In addition to methanol, the Valley site held storage tanks of naphtha, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid and alcohols.  Some tanks had capacities of 2,000 to 4,000 gal, he said.  The site also held a large number of barrels containing unspecified chemicals, he said.

 

Officials at Valley Solvents & Chemicals were not immediately available for comment late Thursday, but Worley said company officials had been at the fire site.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly