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Propane Blast Injures Two; Authorities Looking At Cell Phone
WBAL ^ | January 29, 2004

Posted on 01/30/2004 11:37:29 PM PST by 11th_VA

THOMASVILLE, Pa. -- An explosion at a facility that refurbishes propane tanks for gas grills shredded a tractor-trailer and injured two workers Thursday.

Investigators were trying to determine whether a ringing cell phone could have ignited propane from a leaking canister, a fire official said. A workers' cell phones rang at the time of the blast, which was heard more than 12 miles away.

The Aero Energy Inc. employees were securing a truckload of 1,152 propane tanks for delivery to Maryland at 4:25 a.m. when the explosion occurred, said plant manager William Wagner.

The employees, who were not identified, called a supervisor to see whether they should drive themselves to the hospital, but were told to call 911, Wagner said. Their injuries were not considered severe -- one was treated and released from the hospital but the other was kept for observation, said company president Tom Washburn.

Windows were blown out in a nearby industrial park, and a man standing there was knocked over but was not harmed. The Aero Energy plant is about 20 miles south of Harrisburg.

Fire officials said it's unclear whether a ringing cell phone could have caused the explosion. Similarly, many gas stations warn that cell phones could cause gasoline vapors to explode, but it is widely believed to be an urban legend.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: explosion; killercellphones; propane
workers' cell phones rang at the time of the blast, which was heard more than 12 miles away

Must be a heck of a ring tone ...

1 posted on 01/30/2004 11:37:29 PM PST by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA
bttt
2 posted on 01/30/2004 11:42:05 PM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: 11th_VA
Heck if a cell phones ringer could be heard 12 miles away, maybe it could have caused the blast. If not, the notion that cell phones cause sparks is urban legend. Given the extremely dry weather it is almost a given static electricity is the culprit.
3 posted on 01/31/2004 2:58:45 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: Fzob
The fuel to air ratio would have to be perfect but it is possible. But for an explosian to occur,rather than just a fire, it would have to be in an enclosed area.
4 posted on 01/31/2004 3:05:26 AM PST by eastforker (The color of justice is green,just ask Johny Cochran!)
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To: eastforker
Well you need around 2 to 9 percent propane in air to have a flammable mixture, and you need an ignition source for anything to happen. To my knowledge the ring of a properly functioning cell phone does not have the energy to create that ignition source.

I think you will find that there have been no confirmed fires associated with cell phones. All have occurred for some other reason than the cell phone.
5 posted on 01/31/2004 3:50:44 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: Fzob; eastforker
There has been at least one confirmed case of a cell phone being the cause of an explosion. It occurred at a natural gas pumping facility. IIRC, there was a small leak of Natural Gas in one of the flow instruments and when a technician went to answer his cell phone, BOOM.

As I am heading off to woprk shortly I will see if I still have the paperework so I can source this.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}
6 posted on 01/31/2004 3:55:18 AM PST by alfa6 (GNY Highway's Rules: Improvise; Adapt; Overcome)
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To: alfa6
If you are referring to the incident on a oil platform, that case is still being investigated. See Here
7 posted on 01/31/2004 4:00:01 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: Fzob
It has happened here in Texas at ExxonMobil before. They are not intrinsically safe and sometime the frequency of the transmission can activate some instruments.
8 posted on 01/31/2004 4:19:49 AM PST by eastforker (The color of justice is green,just ask Johny Cochran!)
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To: eastforker
They are not intrinsically safe....

True, but being tested as intrinsically safe and having the ability to generate a spark are different. Cell phone manufactures do not test for use in classified electrical areas, hence they are not suitable to use in classified areas. But that doesn't mean they can realistically ignite a fire. There is a possibility that the battery can generate the energy, but I don't think there are any cases of that happening yet.

...and sometime the frequency of the transmission can activate some instruments

Interesting. I hadn't heard of that problem, but it sure sounds possible.

How does that create an ignition source?

9 posted on 01/31/2004 4:32:10 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: Fzob
. . . there have been no confirmed fires associated with cell phones.

I don't care. We still need laws and regulations against cell phones. It will make us feel safer.

10 posted on 01/31/2004 4:38:46 AM PST by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Fester Chugabrew
>>>>>>I don't care. We still need laws and regulations against cell phones. It will make us feel safer.


Never fear, your congressional critters are busy protecting you from those evil capitalist dogs that force you to endure the high risk activities associated with cell phones.
11 posted on 01/31/2004 4:52:21 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: Fzob
The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters program busted the myth about cell phone use while pumping gasoline causing an explosion.

The real culprit? Static discharge.

12 posted on 01/31/2004 5:06:50 AM PST by csvset
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To: Fzob
i work in a large propane fill facility with multiple leaking sources...

we love to yell at people that bring in their tanks and wait to have them filled while yapping or about to yap to their friends and dear loved ones

the "ringing" allegedly creates a minute spark depending on the phone system (no idea what type)

if your standing in the cloud of gas (heavier then air)
you could ignite... which in turn would set of 30 ooo gallon tanks along with propane tanks and acetyelen tanks...

last time that happend tanks were flying around for miles...
its a glorioius site if you have a death wish... apparently they ho through walls engine blocks etc...

so thats my weekend work im the propane man that sells propane and propane accessories...

peace
13 posted on 01/31/2004 5:11:31 AM PST by Flavius ("... we should reconnoitre assiduosly... " Vegetius)
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To: Flavius
we love to yell at people that bring in their tanks and wait to have them filled

Have you consulted with Hank Hill on this?

He would be mortified.

14 posted on 01/31/2004 5:40:04 AM PST by OldSmaj
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To: OldSmaj
yes it really is

i am the gas man...

on weekends... thats my stock money

regular time i work as an environmental scientist(no joke) thats the title i dont go out and hug trees ...

nights like this i research stocks... its a fun way to run around

peace to all (not the hippy kind)
15 posted on 01/31/2004 5:17:14 PM PST by Flavius ("... we should reconnoitre assiduosly... " Vegetius)
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To: Fzob
How does that create an ignition source.By causing other electronic instruments to malfunction.
16 posted on 01/31/2004 5:23:52 PM PST by fso301
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To: fso301
Italics OFF
17 posted on 01/31/2004 5:25:02 PM PST by fso301
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