Posted on 12/06/2006 6:37:55 AM PST by Milwaukee_Guy
Edited on 12/06/2006 7:09:22 AM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]
MILWAUKEE - An explosion and three-alarm fire have been reported at the Falk Corporation, 3001 W. Canal Street in the Menomonee Valley. Smoke is heavy and crews are on the scene. Authorities are reporting several buildings on fire.
Reports are that one building collapsed and another is in danger. Large chunks of one roof are falling off. The explosion could reportedly be felt for miles. Twenty to thirty people may have been injured. Falk Corporation is a global manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee. The company was founded in the 1840's.
Police command post established at Miller Park, a couple of miles west of Falk Corp.
Falk Corp. is at the SW corner of the intersection of I-94 and I-43 near downtown Milwaukee.
Holy sh!t, it flattened a decent sized area of Falk. Flipped over cars nearby per Fox News.
Drove by Falk every day on my way to high school.
Marquette University is also in the area on the other side of the freeway.
Media reporting two buildings damaged or destroyed.
TV shows way to many people standing around near the scene.
No helicopter shots being shown.
Keeping the birds away?
The helicopter shots being shown on the local TV station WISN (channel 12) are horrific. Very large area LEVELED. Please pray for all those involved and that everybody is accounted for.
WTMJ 4 (with Power Zoom!) now over the scene. One large building is completely gutted.
Significant depris spread out at least a hundred yards from the explosion.
Chopper having problems with the live feed.
Now a -five- alarm response.
Prayers for all involved.
Chopper 4 now shows 4 freight car sized propane tanks covered in debris but not burning.
MFD arial pumper set-up right next to the tanks!
Anyplace on line to watch this coverage?
A 100 to 150 yard area of near total devestation at the epicenter of the blast.
Two buildings gone and numerous cars flipped and burnt.
Numerous small scattered fires still burning.
Milwaukee Fire Department starting to get a handle on the fire. Protecting propane tanks still intact.
Power being taken down in the industrial area and gas lines being shut down.
FWIW, being next to those tanks is not that much of a risk. As long as they are not leaking or fire-heated, the firefighters are in good shape. Even if they (The tanks) get warm and vent, and even if that vent gets ignited, the situation is very controllable there (even if it makes good TV). Those propane tanks are incredibly strong and basically CANNOT explode. Leaking propane gas can burn, but the tanks will NOT explode. Even a rupture is unlikely.
They are working to prevent a BLEVE (google or wiki the term for a learning experience)
Search for the following TV stations
WTMJ 4
WITI FOX 6
WISN 12
bump to follow
http://www.todaystmj4.com/_content/news/topstories/story_5895.asp
here, for example
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/er/resource/d1_22.htm
Sounds like a heat treat bath explosion. Can be incredible. Just a big drop of water would start that.
WTMJ Chopper cam showing non-fire department personel at the epicenter working on an apparent gas line manifold.
Apparently plant personel shutting down the gas lines.
Very brave with the smoke still blowing all around them.
Now saying they knew an explosion might be imminent and began to evacuate before the blast occurred. Several serious injuries received at Froedtert. For those who do not know, the areas only Level 1 trauma center is located at Froedtert,no more than 3 miles from the site of the explosion, so those who may have been seriously injured could not be in better hands.
I've seen that on a small scale.
Or how about hydrualic fluid spewing into molten aluminum.
My wife saw that at Briggs and Stratton.
One fatality, horrific.....
If they had some warning it might have been a propane leak that someone smelled.
That and a good evacuation plan would explain that no fatalities have yet been reported.
Milwaukee PD reporting 9 injuries, down from 20 -30 initially.
Police presser soon.......
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