Posted on 01/06/2004 10:20:14 AM PST by HAL9000
CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - An explosion rocked a chemical plant in Conway on Tuesday, forcing emergency workers to evacuate parts of an industrial park and a nearby daycare center."There were some early reports of people with burns but I am not sure of their status," said Conway Police Lt. Chip Stokes.
The explosion occurred at Detco Industries, on the city's south side, near an airport that was shut down temporarily. The state Emergency Management Department said the company makes chemicals for use in industrial maintenance operations.
Black smoke rising from the site could be seen as far away as Little Rock, 30 miles away. The plume was being carried southward on a light north wind.
Stokes said the explosion occurred about 11 a.m. Emergency workers evacuated buildings within a half-mile, including a day-care center.
Stokes there a number of unknown chemicals in the building and that emergency workers were concerned about the possibility of another explosion. Another dozen or so plants are nearby.
"We've got a thick black smoke coming out of the building," Stokes said.
Naturally, that started the rest of the truckers, "There' TWO of 'em, and one of 'em just chased a trooper into his car!"
This went on for miles, getting funnier by the (slow) mile. Finally, a knowledgeable trucker pops in and says, "Them ain't ostriches, they're emus'," which prompted even more speculation from each of the many truckers.
"Ostrich, emu, I don't care, they're still a d**m big bird!" Which prompted even MORE speculation on how they would handle the situation including how much meat on the table the two birds would provide.
We finally inched our way into Conway and saw an overturned open trailer with busted open cages.
Passing through Little Rock and well on our way to Pine Bluff, we continues to hear talk about the "two ostriches," until we finally ran out of range.
That section of I-40 can provide laughs sometimes.
har!
did you ever lay an eye on them emus, good buddy?
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