Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Massive Plastics Plant Fire Sends ‘Toxic Plume' Over North Texas
NBC TV 5 DFW ^ | Aug 19, 2020 | Brian Roth and Matt Jackson

Posted on 08/19/2020 7:57:29 AM PDT by texas booster

A massive fire at a plastics facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, that can be seen for miles is likely to continue burning for days and could knock out electricity in the area for some time, firefighters said Wednesday morning while urging people to stay indoors because of the "toxic plume" rising from the scene.

At about midnight, an overhanging power line fell onto plastic sheeting in a storage facility at the Poly-America manufacturing plant in the 2000 block of West Marshall Drive, said Bill Murphy, Assistant Chief with the Grand Prairie Fire Department.

The materials ignited and spread throughout the storage area, an area about 300 yards wide, Murphy said. One rail car exploded and supporting towers for electricity lines are expected to collapse under the heat of the flames. At least three of Poly-America's freight rail cars had caught fire, Murphy said.

In an update more than eight hours after the fire began, Murphy told reporters the fire was contained to one area of the factory complex and would be allowed to burn itself out -- which could take days.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcdfw.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: fire; grandprairie; texas
People who live in the area reported sporadic power outages. Murphy said Oncor was quick to shut off the electricity in the lines above the fire and power was rerouted around it. Murphy said a "domino effect" was possible when the power line towers collapse at the factory site and others towers in the area could be pulled down as a result.
1 posted on 08/19/2020 7:57:29 AM PDT by texas booster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Thank God for the unseasonably cool weather.


2 posted on 08/19/2020 7:59:42 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions: $1, Today's Special, Half Baked: 50c)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 5thGenTexan; AirForce-TechSgt; Alamo-Girl; Allen In Texas Hill Country; Ancesthntr; archy; ...

Pings out to the Texas Ping! list.

Looks like the cloud from the fire will contain many nasties.

Watch out if you have breathing difficulties.

3 posted on 08/19/2020 8:01:38 AM PDT by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster
...an overhanging power line fell

Now how does that happen?

Storing highly flammable plastics below power lines is not the smartest idea.

4 posted on 08/19/2020 8:01:55 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom ("And oft conducted by historic truth, We tread the long extent of backward time.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

They’ve done it for years. And they’ve had problems with fires for years, though that was more often inside the factory than the bales stored outside.


5 posted on 08/19/2020 8:03:04 AM PDT by tbw2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: mylife

I live in this area. I’m glad we had rain two days ago, or the fire would more easily have spread in the grassy area behind the plastic bale storage area to the creek behind it and then on to a bunch of apartments and industrial buildings.


6 posted on 08/19/2020 8:03:52 AM PDT by tbw2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tbw2

The infamous grassy knoll? /s


7 posted on 08/19/2020 8:15:08 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions: $1, Today's Special, Half Baked: 50c)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mylife
Just got back from my walk along the Trinity River in Ft Worth, can clearly see the smoke and we are 20 miles from the source and the plume stretches another 20 miles west.
8 posted on 08/19/2020 8:15:14 AM PDT by Jolla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

.. ..

9 posted on 08/19/2020 8:15:39 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Poly-America is the world's largest producer of polyethylene construction film and
trash bag manufacturer in the United States, according to the company's website.

********

Plastic bags maybe in short supply for some time. May have to bring
your own when grocery shopping, etc.

10 posted on 08/19/2020 8:22:59 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: deport

Thanks. We just see the smoke plume.


11 posted on 08/19/2020 8:27:50 AM PDT by tbw2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Yay. About 5 miles from work. Yuck.


12 posted on 08/19/2020 8:44:30 AM PDT by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Good thing we’re all wearing masks. LOL


13 posted on 08/19/2020 8:50:50 AM PDT by al_c (Democrats: Party over Common Sense)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deport

Don’t worry: “ With none of the buildings impacted by the fire, Murphy said manufacturing work at the sprawling plant is ongoing Wednesday.”

They won’t let a little thing like a massive fire interfere with production!


14 posted on 08/19/2020 9:03:37 AM PDT by proxy_user
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: proxy_user

Back to work! Back to work! Haven’t any of you ever seen a chemical fire before?


15 posted on 08/19/2020 9:10:56 AM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: deport
Did the GP FD bring in the fire trucks from DFW airport to use their fire fighting foam?

The smoke in the sky has decreased significantly in the past hour.

16 posted on 08/19/2020 10:36:07 AM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Deaf Smith

Deaf

I have no idea. My little info came off scanning some
articles on the net. I really didn’t read them closely.
If they were available for such public use, I’d think it
possible. But they may be restricted to the DFW property.


17 posted on 08/19/2020 11:42:18 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Hmm. I’m over east past Dallas, and nothing in the sky here. GP is a good 30+ mi as the crow flies though, and on the opposite side of downtown. No power issues whatsoever.

Sure that area won’t smell too good for a while.


18 posted on 08/19/2020 12:48:53 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deport
From about 11:15 to 12 noon, the huge Column of smoke went to almost nothing then nothing in the sky to rest of the day.

The talking heads on the afternoon radio stated that at some point fire fighting foam was used.

19 posted on 08/19/2020 5:20:41 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson