Huge Fertilizer Silo Explosion in Texas

[Sea Skimmer]

The fine was apparently due to locals smelling ammonia. Similar smells were reported before the fire. Reports are that the plant had not been inspected in decades, either.

That seems rather implausible when they were cited for specific on site violations in 2006. I recall reading the problems were failure to label the contents of the ammonia tanks clearly, and failure to have an on site security plan. I'm sure the later issue was linked to 9/11 laws, much changed on chemical regulations, ironically that included an end to labeling the contents of railroad tank cars. Not that this was a bad idea.

[Darth Lucifer]

The cry of the child made that video uncomfortable. The coverage provided by you, Sea Skimmer, is the best so far. Thanks for the information!

Holy frak....that was like artillery going off. I jumped out of my chair.

[Surlethe]

Does anybody know how frequently these explosions happen in the US, on a trade-adjusted scale? Wikipedia indicates that this size explosion has happened in the US 4 times over the last 30 or so years, or roughly once a decade.

[Sea Skimmer]

Such blats are very rare, and as that list shows its entirely possible to have a major fire with ammonium nitrate fertilizer that does not result in a serious explosion. It depends on the blend and conditions of the fire. Truck fires may turn into explosions because of the vehicles fuel supply feeding the flames for example and helping form a more explosive blend. Aka ANFO. Otherwise the stuff generally has to cook a long time to blow.

The latest RUMINT on the cause though is that the facility was storing ammonium perchlorate, separated out from the fertilizer production process, in a less then proper manner. The investigation is apparently focusing on if the perchlorate caught fire first, explaining the immediate large violent flames filmed and reported, and that this then touched off more perchlorate and burst the ammonia gas tanks. It appears at this point that the gas tanks were most likely not a major part of the main explosion. The presence of ammonium perchlorate readily explains why the explosion is so violent and sudden.

Ammonium perchlorate is a high explosive and commonly blended for use as rocket fuel. The infamous giant 1980s explosion in Nevada at the PEPCON plant every living person on the internet has seen a billion times was all ammonium perchlorate. The violence of the explosive in these videos, well, that's a strong high explosives at work. Movies and video games basically never represent high explosive explosions (side effect of hollywood can only use gasoline, and everyone wants hollywood like effects) and most industrial accidents involve stuff that while highly energetic, only go off as low explosives like blackpowder filled fireworks depots or fuel vapors at an oil refinery.

[Alyrium Denryle]

The fine was apparently due to locals smelling ammonia. Similar smells were reported before the fire. Reports are that the plant had not been inspected in decades, either.

That seems rather implausible when they were cited for specific on site violations in 2006. I recall reading the problems were failure to label the contents of the ammonia tanks clearly, and failure to have an on site security plan. I'm sure the later issue was linked to 9/11 laws, much changed on chemical regulations, ironically that included an end to labeling the contents of railroad tank cars. Not that this was a bad idea.

Well, that depends. What agency did the inspection? For example, if it was the state department of health services, that would be one thing. A safety inspection by DHS or OSHA would be another.

[Sea Skimmer]

It appears the inspector was the Texas state version of the EPA. Earlier stuff said the federal EPA had inspected them. The last OSHA inspection was in the 1980s. DHS did not know the facility existed because it relied upon self reporting to know. The facility did not need an operating permit until 2004, and when it was built in 1962 it wasn't a requirement that you remove the rocket fuel from the fertilizer. Pretty easy to imagine when they began doing it recently they just didn't do it right.