West fertilizer plant still a danger

West fertilizer plant still a danger, Early this morning residents of West and surrounding areas fear they are still not out of danger. Many residents grow concerned as scanners light up the airwave talking of a new incident with the fertilizer plant that experienced an explosion on Wednesday around 7:50 p.m.

The smell of ammonia has been reported from the same area as the explosion. Firefighters and officers have been instructed to treat this call as a new incident. The concern is ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate was responsible for the Texas City disaster.

The Texas City disaster was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history. The incident took place on April 16, 1947, and began with a mid-morning fire on board the SS Grandcamp which was docked in the Port of Texas City. The fire detonated approximately 2,300 tons of Anhydrous ammonia, the resulting chain reaction of fires and explosions killed at approximately 581 people.

According to the McClenna County Scanner, a law enforcement officer stated that the fertilizer plant received a shipment of 200,000 lbs. of anhydrous ammonia Wednesday morning.

Officials are asking the public to stay away from the explosion site.

For those interested in assisting, a request is being made for the public to make blood donations through Carter Blood Care for West explosion victims.
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