BREAKING NEWS - MASSIVE EXPLOSION AND FIRE - NJ [Actually, Staten Island NY: AM]

ME | 2/21/03 | SELF

[LonePalm]

I just turned and looked out my office window and saw a column of black smoke rising towards Union Beach/Perth Amboy NJ.

I then felt the force of an explosion rattle my window.

[Dog]

We need to keep our eyes open folks..

This could be the opening round to something bigger..

[Semper Paratus]

It could be a diversion. Hope nothing else happens downtown.

[NittanyLion]

Yeah, right. It's not as though there's a terrorist threat to us... < /sarcasm >

[cgk]

Did you happen to see that clip from Iraqi TV on Special Report with Brit Hume (Tony Snow) last night? Some turban-clad leader was screaming about cutting heads off Jews with swords and allah is great. It was horrible, the whole crowd was screaming. I think it was a Mosque but I'm not sure.

Mrs K

[Happy2BMe]

BUMP

[Damocles]

Yep.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

WOW! At least 55 thousands gallons of gasoline.

Wonderful. By April 1 gas will be $2.50/gal.

[JPJones]

The muslims are vs. the Jews too.

...and the hindus,and the buddists, and the atheists...

[AppyPappy]

Probably static electricity (just a guess). TD does this stuff for a living I think

[anniegetyourgun]

That's my worst fear. Just as easily could have been Greenpeace as anyone protesting this past week. Could it be that the Left has it out for their own homeland?

[HairOfTheDog]

I hope there won't be any more too....

(And I am glad you could decipher that typo-laden post of mine!)

[kjam22]

I hate all this conspiracy crap. Many of you look like idiots. It was an accidental spark.

I've worked at a gas processing plant for many years. An accidental spark did not ignite a propane storage facility. It may or may not be terrorist related... but it certainly isn't an accidental "spark".

[cgk]

My thinking exactly. Didn't the expert say that a residential area, although it's "rural" is 1/4 a mile away??

Mrs K

[XRdsRev]

Consort wrote....

Could it be caused by:
— The owners, to collect the insurance?
— Terrorists, to hurt the US?
— Peace activists, to hurt the US?

XRds wrote....

Owners - No, the refineries are all owned by huge fuel concerns who value the contents more than any insurance money.

Terrorists - Hopefully this was just a tragic accident but these Arthur Kill refineries present attractive targets that unfortunately are very vunerable to land and water attack.

Peace Activists - Doubtful, most of them don't wake up until noon.

[goodnesswins]

Haven't you figured FR out yet?....sometimes it's just like a big coffee klatch....if you don't like it, you don't have to be here.

[honeygrl]

I just talked to my dad about this (he was in the Navy when he was young) and he said refueling is very dangerous because of all the vapors in the air and that just a bit of static electricity can ignite a fire.

[John W]

You don't really seem happy.Why are you here?

[LonePalm]

It is NOT at the HESS refinery in Woodbridge, NJ.

It is one or more barges moored on the Staten Island side of the Arthur Kill.

I can still see tall flames from my office window in Middletown, NJ, about 8 miles according to the map. Doing some rough trig, the smoke column is about 1 mile wide at the base.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[steveegg]

Isn't choices 2 and 3 the same?

According to FoxNews, that is a storage facility, not a refinery, and that it was a propane tanker that exploded. The fire appears to be limited to the barge and unloading areas.