Seraphim
01-06-2004, 04:04 PM
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Firefighters direct water into the Detco Industries plant in Conway, Ark., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. Two people suffered burns, one critically, police said after an explosion Tuesday. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
By DAVID HAMMER, Associated Press Writer
CONWAY, Ark. - A series of explosions rocked a chemical plant Tuesday, sending up a giant plume of smoke that could be seen for miles and forcing authorities to evacuate hundreds of residents.
At least two people were injured; all plant workers were accounted for.
"There were some early reports of people with burns but I am not sure of their status," said police Lt. Chip Stokes.
The evacuated area included an elementary school, a day-care center, a trailer park and a Kimberly Clark paper factory that employs 540 people. A nearby airport was also shut down after the initial blast.
Witnesses said that five or six more blasts could be heard about an hour after the first explosion. Black smoke rising from the site could be seen as far away as Little Rock, about 30 miles from the plant.
The explosions occurred at Detco Industries, an industrial chemical manufacturer whose products include cleaning supplies, pesticides and aerosols.
The state Emergency Management Department said the company has hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid and methanol on the premises. The department did not know which chemicals were involved in the incident.
"The plant is fully involved right now," said Jim Bell, the emergency services director for Faulkner County.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department closed an Interstate 40 exit south of the city because all roads leading from the exit were in the evacuation zone, spokesman Randy Ort said.
Firefighters direct water into the Detco Industries plant in Conway, Ark., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. Two people suffered burns, one critically, police said after an explosion Tuesday. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
By DAVID HAMMER, Associated Press Writer
CONWAY, Ark. - A series of explosions rocked a chemical plant Tuesday, sending up a giant plume of smoke that could be seen for miles and forcing authorities to evacuate hundreds of residents.
At least two people were injured; all plant workers were accounted for.
"There were some early reports of people with burns but I am not sure of their status," said police Lt. Chip Stokes.
The evacuated area included an elementary school, a day-care center, a trailer park and a Kimberly Clark paper factory that employs 540 people. A nearby airport was also shut down after the initial blast.
Witnesses said that five or six more blasts could be heard about an hour after the first explosion. Black smoke rising from the site could be seen as far away as Little Rock, about 30 miles from the plant.
The explosions occurred at Detco Industries, an industrial chemical manufacturer whose products include cleaning supplies, pesticides and aerosols.
The state Emergency Management Department said the company has hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid and methanol on the premises. The department did not know which chemicals were involved in the incident.
"The plant is fully involved right now," said Jim Bell, the emergency services director for Faulkner County.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department closed an Interstate 40 exit south of the city because all roads leading from the exit were in the evacuation zone, spokesman Randy Ort said.