Why did the West Fertilizer plant explode?

The explosion occurred after a fire broke out in the plant. Investigators from the Texas Department of Insurance and State Fire Marshall’s Office concluded ammonium nitrate was the cause of the explosion.

What explosion happened in West Texas?

HOUSTON – The fertilizer plant explosion and fire in West, Texas, happened on April 17, 2013, killing 15 people and causing hundreds of injuries among the rural area’s 2,800 people.

How dangerous are fertilizer plants?

Plant fertilizers can poison people and pets if they are inhaled or accidentally ingested. Touching the fertilizer may cause skin irritation, and ingesting it may be poisonous. Nitrates are the ingredients that cause the poisoning. Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb.

How many tons of fertilizer blew up in West Texas?

The facility caught fire on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, and roughly 20 minutes after the fire was first reported to emergency dispatchers the site exploded. At 7:50:38 p.m. CDT (00:50 UTC, April 18), as firefighters were attempting to douse the flames, it exploded with the force of 7.5-10 tons of TNT.

What caused the Texas City explosion?

A giant explosion occurs during the loading of fertilizer onto the freighter Grandcamp at a pier in Texas City, Texas, on April 16, 1947. On April 16, the Grandcamp was being loaded with ammonium nitrate as well as tobacco and government-owned ammunition.

What was the big explosion in Texas?

Texas City explosion of 1947, industrial disaster sparked by the fire and explosion of the SS Grandcamp on April 16–17, 1947, in Texas City, Texas. The blast set off a chain of fires as well as a 15-foot (4.5-metre) tidal wave. Between 400 and 600 people were killed, with as many as 4,000 injured.

What happens if you eat fertilizer?

Plant fertilizer and household plant food poisoning can occur if someone swallows these substances. Plant fertilizers are mildly poisonous if swallowed in small doses. Larger doses can be harmful to children. Touching large quantities of plant fertilizers may cause severe burns.

Can fertilizers explode by themselves?

Once ammonium nitrate reaches 210 degrees Celsius, it starts to melt, quickly producing a bunch of gases, mainly nitrous oxide, water vapor and nitrogen gas. If those gases can’t escape, temperatures go up and the reaction gets faster and faster. Now this on its own could lead to an explosion.

Why are so many chemical plants exploding?

Heat and dangerous reactions are the cause of many plant explosions. Gas leaks, most often caused by poor maintenance, result in a number of explosions each year. When gas leaks come into contact with a source of heat, they begin to expand and can explode.

Where was the West fertilizer explosion in Texas?

On April 17, 2013, an explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas killed 15 people, injured at least 200 more and damaged 350 homes. The explosion occurred after a fire broke out in the plant.

What was the damage to the West Fertilizer Plant?

The massive explosion obliterated the West Fertilizer Company plant and caused heavy damage and further destruction to surrounding areas. Numbers for people dead or injured varied initially.

How old is the West Fertilizer Plant in Texas?

The West Fertilizer plant had been open and operating since 1962. The company was permitted and regulated by several state and federal agencies, including OSHA , EPA and TCEQ. Records from the Texas Department of State Health Services show the plant had as much as 270 tons of ammonium nitrate (which can be explosive) on site in 2012.

What was the lesson from the fertilizer plant explosion?

Lessons From the Fertilizer Plant Explosion in West, Texas Bruce Clements, MPH Texas Department of State Health Services 2008 – 2013 Major Responses in Texas •Hurricanes & Tropical Storms • Dolly, Gustav, Ike, Alex & Eduard •Epi Investigations • Raw vegetables, TB, Mercury • Salmonella, Measles, Mumps, Cyclospora, Pertussis •H1N1 Pandemic