STATEN ISLAND REFINERY BLAST

02/21/03 | vanity

[genefromjersey]

About 9:55AM, there was an explosion involving a propane barge, being fuelled at an Exxon-owned fuel storage facility on Staten Island (NY) at the edge of the Arthur Kill, which separated NY and NJ,not far from the heavily travelled Verrazano Narrows Bridge , which runs between Perth Amboy, NJ and Staten Island, NY.

So far, the resulting fire involves a barge and some storage tanks. A thick pillar of plack smoke hangs over the area, and firefighters are trying to work out a means of combatting the blaze, before it spreads to other, nearby petroleum product tanks.

We felt the shock of the explosion here- some 20-25 miles away, and can see what appears to be a large dark cloud on the horizon.

So far,no casualties reported. Cause of blast unknown. No indications this was a terrorist attack, but the tank farms on the NJ and NY sides of the Arthur Kill would be a prime target for any such activity.

[genefromjersey]

Story is now on CNN, Fox,and all major local area channels.

[alisasny]

I am out on Long Island and just went to look. About 40 miles east and a little southern from the plant.

The smoke is blowing SOUTH and its a very large mass of smoke.

The smoke maybe be blowing a little bit eastward but the whole plume is going south.

[Caliban]

HMMMMMM Duct tape and plastic would be very useful to keep the STINK out of one's home....

[alisasny]

I keep hearing EYE witnesses say its coming East. If that were the case the plume would be coming directly over Long Island. It is clearly heading South over the water and NJ, and I can not smell it but I did open the windows as the weather is so nice today and its nice to air out house once in a while.

[shadeaud]

Looks like it's under control, whether it's just now at the source or the fire dept. is actually fighting the blaze. Bridges still shut down. The reports now are that the fuel was scheduled to be delivered to local airports.

[Mike Fieschko]

Just to avoid unnecessary concerns, the Verrazano isn't between Perth Amboy and Staten Island, but between Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Did you mean the Outerbridge or Goethals?

[Steven W.]

the hyperactive coverage of this non-event is only heightened by the lack of news for the networks to cover, excluding other truly non-events such as nightclub fires. These kinds of fires are always a risk during the transfer of fuel and is why those areas of a refinery are always isolated from the major portion of the facilities through which the procedure is strictly monitored and fairly routine.

[RepubMommy]

What is with all of these fires this past week? I am near Nutley and we had a big one also that burnt down a town landmark (it was a family owned paper supply store.)I am unclear though if there are any injuries with the barge. Anyone know?

[Coleus]

Yea, it's pretty bad. Nutley, then the tragic fire in Chicago and now Rhode Island, now the barge in Staten Island. When it rains it pours.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I am reminded of the tanker explosion years ago at an Amoco terminal in Michigan. An American Steamship ore carrier was sailing too fast near where the tanker was tied up to unload. The steamship's wake pulled the tanker away from its moorings, then slammed it back against the cement piles, causing a spark that ignited 50 thousand bbls of gasoline.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"the hyperactive coverage of this non-event is only heightened by the lack of news for the networks to cover, excluding other truly non-events such as nightclub fires."

What would qualify as an actual "event" in your world??? Have you ever been diagnosed as schizophrenic, or is your apparent lack of attachment to the rest of the people you share the world with just a minor character flaw?

[ken5050]

Staten Island wants to secede from NYC..this is the first salvo in the revolution.....when SI is an independent city it's gonna dig up all the garbage in Fresh Kills and ship it BACK to Manhattan...

[crazykatz]

Just a quick question? Does that include the debris from the WTC?

[genefromjersey]

You're right,Mike. It is the Verrazano, and it does run between Brooklyn and SI.

( I get so excited, I forget my geography. Meds ! Meds ! )

[Johnny Gage]

Already posted about 5 other times.

[ken5050]

very poignant comment, my friend..I was just attempting a little bit of humor, given all hose here jumping to assumptions about the blast being terrorist caused. But, given the way NYC works, and the hideousness of the designs for the new WTC, it'll probably be YEARS before something is rebuilt there..and you'll probably have someone propose, in about, say..2009, that we use it for landfill....remember, it's been 18 years since they first tried to get a few public toilets in midtown Manhattan....it never happened......now, we're gonna start to rebuild the WTC in a short time?....NOT!!