Stunning Vid: Massive Uncontrolled Fire Consuming Texas Chemical Plant
- Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:09pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Photo Credit: WFAA.com
The Associated Press is reporting that massive plumes of black smoke are coming from a large fire at a chemical plant south of Dallas (you can watch a live stream of coverage from WFAA-TV here).
The Monday morning fire at Magnablend Chemical Plant has reportedly prompted authorities to tell area residents and students at a nearby elementary school to stay inside to avoid possibly dangerous gases that may be released in the fire. WFAA.com has more:
Several large explosions could be seen as the fire spread throughout the warehouse. One of those explosions created a concerning large brown cloud, according the WFAA’s Gary Ultee while flying above in HD Chopper 8.
Ultee also said a man on a forklift could be seen removing containers away from the massive fire. The fire moved so quickly, it engulfed a fire truck at the scene as firefighters nearby battled the blaze. The blaze ate away at the truck, leaving only the frame visible inside the ball of fire.
Photo Credit: WFAA.com
According to the plant’s web site, 85 employees work at the facility. These employees have apparently been evacuated as well. One of the chemicals that has been reported to be stored at the plant is anhydrous ammonia. The North Dakota Department of Health defines the chemical as follows:
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a sharp, suffocating odor. People will notice the pungent odor at levels ranging from 5 – 50 parts per million (ppm). Irritating effects generally begin at levels between 25-50 ppm. More serious effects generally will not occur until levels are greater than 100 ppm.
Below, find another clip that showcases the fire’s fury:
And here’s startling footage of a firetruck going up in flames:
This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.
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Comments (95)
COFemale
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:09pmClearly the firefighters should not of used water to fight the fire. Were they not informed of the flamability of the chemicals and they could still burn on top of water? I guess they should have been using foam trucks instead as they use at airports.
This is clearly a break down in safety as the natural gas industry must inform first reponders how to fight natural gas explosions and subsequent flames, so should chemical plants industries. It is a federal mandate that the industry themselves pay for; it is not a taxpayer supported mandate.
Report Post »txsrowdy10
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:58pmYou’re a moron! There are labels on every container listing how to and how not to put out a fire from the contents. There are MSDS sheets all over that plant, in the office, not to mention the ones in the fire trucks! As a firefighter, I find your snotty post insulting! The fire fighters there got info enroute and at the sceen. There are numerous steps in fighting these types of fires, methods change as the fire changes.
Report Post »RedWhiteandBlueUniverse
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 6:11pmHow many firefighters does it take to move a fire truck before it burns to the ground?
Report Post »smallbiznessman
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 6:18pmIt takes 0 firefighters to move a truck before it gets engulfed in flames. You don’t risk your life over a piece of equipment. It can be replaced.
Report Post »Rumrunner3
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 9:37pmtxsrowdy10 do they also have in the fire truck where not to park a fire truck. Since we non firefolks don’t have all that them smarts.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:08pmIt looked to me (I’m NOT a firefighter) that the water was being used to cool drums near the fire and NOT to try and put the fire out! It’s a tough call–let it burn or try and contain it while it burns! Sometimes a piece of equipment gets placed where it can do the most good, and then it gets overwhelmed! These guys weren’t running from the fire, but looked to be trying to determine whether their cooling efforts should be continued or were making things worse, now that material was being disbursed with the water! You really dont’ want it in your sewer system, either–another worry for these courageous souls! Those big fireballs could have been as innocous as forklift cylinders of propane blowing off and disbursing less flammable material with it! Glad I wasn’t there! What they didn’t tell you about ammonia is instand blindness if liquid ammonia hits the eyeball!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:10pmIt seemed to me that the tower spray was being stowed in prep for moving the truck, but that the fire overwhelmed it before they could get the outriggers stowed. Apparently, they were in the process of trying to move it when the fire trapped the truck!
Report Post »AFPhys
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 12:26pmI have worked at a facility such as this as safety officer. There are designated people at the plant who the firefighters must check with immediately upon arriving at the scene, who know what the situation is with regard to such chemical hazards, and are able to provide guidance. It is my experience that it is not uncommon that the firemen fail to check with that designee. If I were going to bet, I would bet that is the situation here, if any fault exists. However, it is also true that sometimes the best way to handle a chemical fire even IF water will cause a nasty reaction, is to pour oodles of water on it to overwhelm the reaction.
I believe your comment is based on very little understanding of this type of severe situation.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:06pmUtility giant AEP says it will close five coal plants to comply with EPA regs
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/165651-aep-epa-regs-will-cost-billions-and-result-in-five-closed-plants
chuck_wagon
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:57pmSo you’re telling me NOBODY could climb in that truck and drive off before the fire hit it? How stupid are these guys?
Report Post »liv4jumpin
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:34pmIf you look closely you’ll see the outriggers deployed and on the ground… soooooooooooo NO. They could not quickly jump in and move it. SmartASS.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:37pmRight, they couldn’t see the fire flowing their direction from inside the building and QUICKLY lift gear and take off. Sure. I’ve worked on ENG trucks similiar to those and I know better. And yes, I am smarter.
Report Post »NewYorkDan
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:52pmOutriggers are clearly down. If they couldn’t get to the controls to raise them (that is a slow process itself, and a ff went to side but was chased out by advancing flames), that truck is going no where. Human life is always the primary concern. Equipment is replaceable. Be safe smoke eaters!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:58pmthe one guy that could have at the back of the truck took off to the left after a brief sprint to the right. The firefighter on this side of the truck had no idea it was coming towards the truck. Split second decision. I’m wondering, were these volunteer firefighters or professional because there were a lot of obvious mistakes made here…
Report Post »elihu
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 9:34pmOne would think that seeing the immensity of the fire, that they would at least have left the driver in the truck. It sure looks stupid from my view that they didn’t…
Report Post »FireShowing
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 9:36pmThey should not have been putting water on a Haz-Mat product nor placed the unit downhill of such product. The actions were against a common sense approach of containing a serious spill/fire of this magnitude. End result, a loss of a valuable piece of equipment paid for by taxpayers. Thankfully, no loss of life or injuries occurred. My next guess will be, the IAFF will say it was lack of manpower or it was Volunteers, to that I say total BS. If I remember correctly, protect life and property and don’t do anything stupid. It all started to change for the worse for the taxpaying citizen when politics and unions began ruining one of America’s greatest institutions, the Fire Department.
Report Post »firemanfrank
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:47pm@ Chuckwagon…… No the only guy that could have risked his life is on his moms computer using the screen name of a old dog food comercial. These fireman dont go to your job and question why the sperm bank is missing all the inventory do they.
Report Post »CitizenVetUSA
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:54pmYep, need a new fire truck, just park it real close to the liquid fire and watch the burning liquid run downhill to the truck. Barrack Insane Obama will pay for a new union built ladder replacement.
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 5:04pmRight on CitizenVet, but it won’t be built by an American Union…those ladders are made of steel. The American steel ladder manufacturing industry has been shipped to China… Steel mining and steel manufacturing is too expensive to build here, what with the self imposed regulations and all.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:35pmEPA is already in route to the scene.
Report Post »lisa2994
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:03pmOf coures my first thoughts are for the people working at this plant and the firefighters there trying to contain it. Hope they all stay safe from harm. Yep! Our government does not like TX at all. Why? Because the governer of our state stood up to them and said no! But do we care? NOPE!
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:52pmOnce again, Rick Perry is a governor whose state is on fire, denying climate change…..
Ok, libtarrds….name that quote! Tools……
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:12pmDon’t blame it on Perry! Remember Bush lives there–it MUST have been his fault!
Report Post »tbarr4
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:51pmSoros and Wasserman did it!!
Report Post »lobster
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:02pmFor crying out loud, you KNOW Bush did it. Incidently it’s not the EPA (dumb enough in their own right), but OSHA.
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:49pmThink of all the construction jobs this will create.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:25pmshovel ready one too…
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:35pmrampant speculation is a mental disorder….just saying
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:33pmPoor fire fighters this video is going to go into the training archive! Up wind and up stream boys engine placement 101. Unfortunately this rookie mistake is going to cost Texas tax payers a quarter million or more! what are you going to do as long as hiring is based on skin color and not individuals ability and Knowledge. Sorry to say things arn’t going to change for the better until the whole thing is burned to the ground so to say.
Report Post »NewYorkDan
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 5:02pmProbably more than a $Mil! They did get ladder down and were trying to contain with hoses/booms to get time to clear ladder. Arm chairs, how many seconds did this all take. That liquid started moving suddenly, and quickly. Chuck_Wagon, you say you are a brother fire fighter? Ever had flame coming at you this quickly? Men are safe. Equipment IS replaceable. Take a break boys!!! You aren’t there.
Report Post »RockingGRanch
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:29pmAs an American I was very disappointed to read that alot of these posts were about whose fault it was, why they did it and what is going to happen to Texas now… As I am an American I am also a Texan. When incidents like this happen the first reaction is to check and pray for the well being of those effected… call me simple minded but I do have a HEART!
Report Post »I am praying for the employees and their families, along with the surrounding schools and Businesses.
Faith in God
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:38pmAmen and well said!
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:40pmI kinda went down the same road as you did Rock. I too am a Texan and my first concern was the people involved. We are hyperpolitical at times as a people. The progressives want us either at each other’s throats or dumb as posts.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:04pmNot a Texan but I agree with all the above. Details will come out later but the priority now is the safety of all involved.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:28pmAmen to your post.
Those who are bringing political crap into this are FOS.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:33pminteresting post: The story did say all employees were evacuated and that a nearby school was told to keep everyone inside. If the story had said there were missing ppl. I am positive there would have been more posts concerning the safety of those.
I find it funny that many took this fire as an out of control wildfire that swept over the facility when it appears there was a problem of some sort that caused it, then these same ppl turn around and blame Barack Hussein. I have no problem blaming Barack Hussein when he deserves it, but I’m thinking this time he had little to do with it.
any truth to the rumor Geroge Bush had something to do with it?
Report Post »karen162
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:17pmI have a heart too. Remember, God makes people different. You and Glenn He has made with more emotions and He has made you to serve His purposes.
People like me have less emotions and more desire to jump in and help solve the problem.
Accidents happen, people die in a second. That’s why you need to be straight with the Lord at all times. While I think people who cry about everything bad that happens in the world is a waste of time and energy, I try to remember they are serving a purpose and I just turn off the t-v or walk away from them tell they get their composure back. Yes, this is sad, but…I’m not a, “bad American” or any less of a servant of God because I don’t get all weepy about it. I’m built differently. I doubt King David let such emotions run through him in battle or he wouldn’t have won as many as he did.
Report Post »karen162
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 4:21pmI have a heart too. Remember, God makes people different. You and Glenn He has made with more emotions and He has made you to serve His purposes.
People like me have less emotions and more desire to jump in and help solve the problem.
Accidents happen, people die in a second. That’s why you need to be straight with the Lord at all times.
While I think people who cry about everything bad that happens in the world is a waste of time and energy, I try to remember they are serving a purpose and I just turn off the t-v or walk away from them tell they get their composure back.
Yes, this is sad, but…I’m not a, “bad American” or any less of a servant of God because I don’t get all weepy about it. I’m built differently. I doubt King David let such emotions run through him in battle or he wouldn’t have won as many as he did.
Report Post »NewYorkDan
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 5:09pm…and the men fighting this monster. Dittos on the “well said”!
Report Post »spidermonkey
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:24pmThis fire is about half a mile from me. Reports are that all personnel are accounted for and safe so far. Looks like a huge storm cloud.
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:18pmArson….final answer
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:31pmUnfounded speculation….final answer
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:03pmaggiebrewer
New screen name
Just Saying
If this were Disqus we could see the history of your posts & see where you were coming from.
True, it is too early speculate. But I bet the left is going to say the chemicals industry as partr of the oil industry is not environmentally friendly.
They LEFT will be saying all these things while typing on keyboards or texting on cell phones made from plastics by the very same chemical industry.
That about says it all there needs to be said to understand the LEFT.
Report Post »Gary Fishaholic
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:59pmThis certainly could have been arson but I guess I shouldn‘t make any conclusion’s before they find out the cause. My only hope no one was killed and they get this out A.S.A.P. . As other’s have said probably more regulation coming to shutdown America and add to the unemployment lines.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:18pmCould just as easily have been dropped container, forklift hit pipeline, failed valve or pump, incorrect operation of a valve, etc. etc. Be glad that there are companies to manufacture this stuff, knowledgeable people to work there and 1st responders to show up when stuff happens! You can bet the fire dept had drilled there many times and knew the plant! There was nothing but confidence in the reaction of plant employees, staff, fire dept, local officials, etc. It’s probably an industrial accident and they will find the cause–and learn from it!
Report Post »Misha
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:51pmI hope everyone got out safely.
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:36pmAnother uncontrolled fire in Texas…
Previous have been arson.
Report Post »Arson….again?
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:42pmDo not count on it just being arson in a random manner; this is more likely the work of some set of the eco-terrorists like ELF, or even the administration or the unions to cause even more and more sets of pressure…and think on this, if the matter is bad enough, this is one more reason the EPA can use to further their agenda against the state of TEXAS.
Report Post »Steelhead
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:06pmSnow, back up your lies with some facts
Report Post »drago
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:18pmAmericat, i’d bet my life savings its arson, as were all the other fires we had here. And it was all sanctioned by obummer, through the unions….
Report Post »momrules
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:38pmThe local authorities have said the Bastrop fire was arson and I would not doubt that this will be classified as arson too. Only time will tell.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:05pmAt AmeriCat
Please provide links of previous investigations that found fires at chemical plants to be arson especially if it was ELF or someone like that.
I know the left torches cars all the time.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:15pmThe fire at “Austin suburb of Leander” is being investigated as arson.
Report Post »In Oregon condos & cars have been burned by leftists as previously reported in the news.
Chappy123
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:30pmSnow may have hit the nail on the head.
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:35pm‘
Report Post »This Anhydrous Ammonia is most likely made from Natural Gas, so, count on a smackdown from Obama’s EPA Thugs, and some more regulation and taxes, accompanied by a ban on all drilling and production.
wtd
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 2:42pmFWIW: The chemical company, Magnablend, Inc was formed in 1979 by David Pendery, President, and Darlene Pendery, Executive Vice President. See internet archive source (Feb 13, 2010) link here http://tinyurl.com/3j7cmjl . . . Actual Chemical Co. WebSite is currently down and Yahoo archives are useless.
Politically, Darlene and David Pendery consistently contributed to Republican candidates from 01-06. See: OpenSecrets link here http://tinyurl.com/4yu2glt
In 1993, Scott Pendery was brought on board to help manage and grow the business. Scott is a 1989 honors graduate from California State University, Chico. He is currently the Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. See first link for source of this info.
Additionally,
“The company does custom chemical manufacturing, blending and packaging and works for various agricultural, oil and gas companies including Haliburton, Dow Chemical and Dupont” . . .see http://tinyurl.com/3lxe7tt for source.
Given this administrations penchant for undermining everything this country stands for, Gun Walker, Solyndra, Black Panther Voter Intimidation, . . .it’s not much of a stretch to suspect sabotage – ergo making use of a crisis to inflict further unwanted control from on high.
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:35pmNew regulations or a large donation to the child king after this.
Report Post »katiefrankie
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 6:25pmSnort.
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:34pmAnd now here comes the number new regulations from the dictator.
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:26pmThat’s not so bad, you should have been in Las Vegas in 1988 when Pepcon blew up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cy0bd-TdmA
Report Post »karen162
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:35pmI remember that one….it was almost like a nuke blew up.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:22pmAnhydrous ammonia is strong stuff!! Years ago, we used to fertilize our crops with it. Fumes can sure make you cry and clean out your sinus cavities quickly!! Always surprised you how FAST people could move when they overfilled those fertilizer rigs though! Hope they get it out soon.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:32pmWhat I find very strange is this CHEMICAL plant also makes “pet food & animal feed”. WTF!!!
Report Post »karen162
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:21pmDidn’t Glenn just move his family to that area? I do hope they are out of harms way, and there seems to be a lot of environmental disasters over the past couple of years. More regulation coming?
Report Post »decohrs1
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:31pmNo, Beck’s move is to NW Dallas. Waxahatchie is SE.
Report Post »FireShowing
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:17pmNice positioning of the Tower, what were they thinking?….Now that’s a big chunk of taxpayer money up in flames.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:28pmyou do have to wonder about that, don’t ya…
Report Post »FireShowing
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:46pmSOP of Haz-Mat incidents, stay upwind and uphill of products involved. Guess they’ll learn that in the Post Incident Analysis.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:12pmAnd “Nero” will continue to NOT declare a Federal Emergency for Texas!!!
Report Post »RedManBlueState
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:21pmEmperor Zero dribbles while America burns.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:23pmLook For the Left to ban all chemicals later in the week…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:24pmObama is at best late … and more often not there at all .. especially for “red” states. Look how long it took for him to do ANYTHING in the Gulf of Mexico. What a loser.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 1:32pmum, pretty sure this has nothing to do with the fires in Texas. I have no problem blaming Barrack Hussein but thinking this was an accident of some sort at the plant.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 3:17pmFly Old Glory 24/7 365
I tend to agree is was an industrisl accident, but I would not be surprised if the left were indolved.
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