Posted on 07/30/2009 2:17:42 PM PDT by eastforker
BRYAN, Texas -- Officials are evacuating much of Brazos County to the north and west of Bryan because of a fire at a chemical plant believed to contain explosive ammonium nitrate.
KBTX
The fire broke out about noon Thursday at the El Dorado Chemical Co. plant on Highway 21.
Throne says no injuries have been reported from the fire, where fertilizer and other chemicals are blended and packaged.
People within the area -- specifically within a two-to-three mile radius -- have been ordered to immediately evacuate and portions of Highway 21 and Highway 47 have been shut down.
The plant is located about three-fourths of a mile west of Bryan.
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Bryan-College Station fire dispatcher Andy Throne said the plume of smoke extended up to 60 miles from the plant.
Throne said no injuries have been reported from the fire, where fertilizer and other chemicals are blended and packaged.
Brazos County 911 district associate director Patrick Corley said a large evacuation was ordered.
“Residents located in Brazos County, north of University Drive in College Station, should evacuate immediately. This covers the entire city of Bryan and the entire northern half of Brazos County, so it’s a considerable area,” Corley said.
Reed Arena at Texas A&M has been opened as a shelter for those who need a place to go.
Corley said the evacuation affects more than 80,000 people.
“As far as battling the fire, they’re letting it burn at this point and trying to evacuate people as far as possible from it,” Corley said.
Officials said welding is a possible cause of the plant fire.
Thanks for the heads up.
You’re welcome, lots of Texas Freepers down that way.
I live in College Station outside of the evac zone. I'm glad we don't have to move out, because two people (including me) are sick at home today.
It’s now after 6 P.M. on the East Coast. Hope all FReepers down in that area are safe.
re: believed to contain explosive ammonium nitrate
Correct me if I’m wrong, but ammonium nitrate by itself is not explosive or even flammable. It needs other chemicals, like those found in diesel fuel, to be explosive and even then it needs a detonator of some type.
I could be wrong, but this is what I recall learning about it.
The Texas City explosion 50 or so years ago was a ship load of ammonium nitrate that caught fire and exploded with the force of a small nuclear warhead..
Ah yes, how right you are. A million thanks for refreshing my memory.
Seems to be more calm this evening. My mom-in-law was going to stay with us in College Station to stay out of Bryan, but things seem to have settled down and so, she went back home.
We live in the evacuation area, so we spent the afternoon with our Aggie son and his roommates in south College Station. We just got the “all clear” to return home. Glad that there seem to be no major casualties, but it was a scary experience!
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