Petroleum Tank Blast in Texas Kills Four teenagers(Palestine, Texas)

http://www.kansascity.com ^ | 4-12-03 | OXENinFLA

[OXENinFLA]

Petroleum Tank Blast in Texas Kills Four Associated Press

PALESTINE, Texas - A petroleum tank exploded as five teenagers were standing on top of it, killing four, authorities said.

Three of the teens were pronounced dead Friday night at the scene of the explosion in the Long Lake area, about 10 miles west of Palestine in eastern Texas.

A fourth died Saturday afternoon at a hospital where she was airlifted following the blast, which occurred about 10 p.m. Friday. A fifth was treated for minor injuries and released.

Authorities said the blast threw some of the teens between 50 and 75 yards away, police said. The tank, owned by Key Production Company Inc., had about 6 inches to a foot of oil in the bottom.

Investigators were trying to determine what ignited the blast.

A witness said he saw flames shoot up about 100 feet in the air. Vernel Smith, who lives about a mile from the scene, said she felt her house shake.

"It rocked my house from front to back," Smith said. "I thought my water heater had exploded or something."

Lt. Chuck Franklin said the teenagers were camping at a cabin with their grandfather Friday night, and at some point went for a walk and ended up at the tank.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

MY bad, propane petroleum does it really matter? they both make for a big boom

[Pikachu_Dad]

Those tanks are designed to breathe.

So yes, there would be some level of fumes on top of the tank.

My gut tells me that this was a smoke break with a very bad location chosen to do it.

[_Jim]

propane petroleum does it really matter?

Investigation-wise and determing just WHAT quite literally sparked this explosion - YES IT DOES!

As to idly passing words on a website - no ...

[Pern]

How about a spark from a shoe tack+ fumes.

I guess that's possible, but highly improbable.

[Paulus Invictus]

Those poor kids may have read too much Stephen King and did a Trashcan Man act that went wrong.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

well I am sure it matters for the investigation. but I think I can solve it quite quickly. Teenagers got on top of a petroleum tank and whatever they did (light a cig, build a fire, throw rocks at it) whatever it was it was dumb

[deport]

So yes, there would be some level of fumes on top of the tank.

---

The tank, owned by Key Production Co. Inc., had about 6 inches to a foot of oil in the bottom, Deputy Franklin said. "When there is oil there is always gas mixed in with it," he said, adding that probably gas vapor was venting out of the top of the tank.

[_Jim]

well I am sure it matters for the investigation.

You bet it does - look down the road and consider the liability aspect regarding inevitable lawsuits that spring up ...

[goodnesswins]

To state the obvious. Kids today are granted "rights" to do just about anything they want, and then the parents wonder why things like this happen. (I have some relatives who would probably laugh at their kids standing on top of a tank.....and say, "oh, it's alright....leave them alone."

[Clara Lou]

but it seems the gene pool has been cleaned up a little.....
1) Cruel comment. They were teenagers. Teenagers are ignorant and notorious for believing that they are impervious to harm. 2) There is a HUGE difference between ignorance and stupidity.

[MEG33]

Thanks.

[OXENinFLA]

C'mon, were you not a little stupid at 14 or 15?

Now it's universally know that all teenagers know everything, just ask one. =)

But at 14 or 15 I knew well enough what explosive gases were and not to bring any type of flame close to them.

I feel terrible for the families, this is a horrible this to read. But I'm guess it was something one of them did to cause the explosion.

[Anchoragite]

I guess that's possible, but highly improbable.

Considering they were probably close to vents, tank full of fumes, it might have been something as small as a static electic shock. Not improbable at all.

[MotleyGirl70]

C'mon, were you not a little stupid at 14 or 15? I know I was.

Are you serious????

I was a "little" stupid at 15 when my friends and I got busted for toilet papering someones house.

These kids were NOT a little stupid they were VERY STUPID.

End of story.

My prayers go to the families for loss of these young STUPID kids.

[goodnesswins]

Yes, you are right. My point is that their "ignorance" comes from their parents desire not to "teach" them. I see it all the time. Yes, the comment was cruel.....but not as cruel as their deaths. If someone had really cared they wouldn't have let them mount the oil "can."

[Servant of the Nine]

Somehow I don't think they were just standing on it.

Why not? There was one that surrived, I'm guessing that's where the info came from.

There is very little new production around Palestine, so that tank has probably been sitting there for years, sometimes empty, sometimes full, without exploding.
Then it "coincidentaly" exploded while the teens were on it?
I don't think so.

So9

[Anchoragite]

1) Cruel comment. They were teenagers. Teenagers are ignorant and notorious for believing that they are impervious to harm. 2) There is a HUGE difference between ignorance and stupidity.

Bravo.

If anyone wants to point fingers, how about all of the adults who build dangerous facilities and then don't secure them. If a teenager can wander into a facility like that and set off an explosion by accident, someone with malice could easily do the same on purpose.

[_Jim]

If someone had really cared they wouldn't have let them mount the oil "can."

Herein comes the liability aspect - was the compound properly fenced off to prevent intruders - was the lock or gate breached for entry by persons attempting to gain entry ...

[demosthenes the elder]

not wanting to bet, just a little suspicious...
the coincidence of factA (the tank exploded) and factB (the kids were atop it) plus the general factC (that oil tanks do not explode spontaneously on a regular basis) and general factD (14-15 year olds are prone to commit stupid actions) suggests that one or more of these kids triggered the explosion.
This is probably a case for the Darwin Awards.

[_Jim]

If a teenager can wander in

Herein lies an assuption that remains yet to be proven ...