Fertilizer storage on responders’ radar
Fertilizer storage on responders’ radar
By Brandon Evans | Published Wednesday, May 1, 2013
It’s something all firefighters study.
The dangers of ammonium nitrate, a commonly-used agricultural fertilizer, are well-known. The April 17 explosion at West Fertilizer Co. demonstrated once again the devastation that can happen when that potential danger becomes reality.
“When you’re a rookie, you spend an extensive amount of time studying these types of situations,” said Decatur Fire Chief Mike Richardson. “We have plenty of strategies and planned tactics for any type of problem that occurs with it. We train a lot for these eventualities.”
Ammonium nitrate was the fuel in the Texas City disaster of April 16, 1947 – a devastating explosion that occurred after a vessel carrying a large amount of the substance caught fire while it was docked. The explosion killed approximately 600 people, including 26 firefighters who were battling the blaze – the entire Texas City Fire Department.
Since then it’s become standard fare of fire training.
http://www.wcmessenger.com/2013/news/fertilizer-storage-on-responders-radar/
