Explosions at Florida gas plant 'probably human or equipment error'

Roads near a gas plant in Lake County were littered with twisted pieces of propane canisters early Tuesday, hours after explosions that injured at least eight people and forced the evacuation of residents up to a mile away.

Just before 7 a.m., Tavares Fire Chief Richard Keith told reporters on the scene that, "we don't think there was any act of sabotage or anything like that."

Instead, he said, the massive fire was likely due to an equipment or human error.

Firefighters and paramedics treated a total of nine patients late Monday and into Tuesday morning. Five of those are in critical condition, according to Jerry Smith, Lake Emergency Medical Services interim executive director, who briefed commissioners mid-Tuesday morning.

One of those patients treated was not on staff at the plant but was treated for smoke inhalation.

Workers at the Blue Rhino plant take old propane cylinders, clean them, refurbish them, fill them and then package the tanks for shipping.

As of Monday, there were about 53,000 20-pound propane tanks on site.

The fire came from those canisters, most of which ignited in the blaze. Due to the intensity of the flames, Keith said, firefighters had to let it burn itself out to some degree.

The three bulk tanks on the property ? which hold 90,000 pounds of propane ? did not ignite in the fire, he said.

"The fact that those things didn't explode, that's the reason I go to church on Sunday," said Eric Wages, the battalion chief for the Tavares Fire station closest to the Blue Rhino plant.

One of those massive tanks had a black smudge, a sign it was hit by a flying 20-pound tank.

Blue Rhino is a subsidiary of Overland Park, Kansas-based Ferrellgas.

"We know very little so far. It's very early, it's very preliminary," said Ferrellgas spokesman Scott Brockelmeyer.

"We applaud the quick response of the emergency responders last night. We're going to pledge our full support to them this morning as they begin to conduct their investigation."

Residents evacuated as fire crews respond

About 24 workers were in the main building on County Road 448 when the first explosion erupted in another area shortly before 11 p.m., said Sheriff's Office Lt. John Herrell.

The plant runs in two shifts, and workers on the second shift were on when the blaze ignited. Some of the employees were hired through a staffing agency, which declined to comment.

Keith said officials, "spent a good part of our night actually searching for employees."

Some witnesses thought it was fireworks at first. Others thought the sight of flames in the distance was a downed airplane.

Wages, the Tavares battalion chief, said the first blast knocked firefighters' radios off their chairs.

Source: http://www.wsbt.com/news/os-florida-gas-plant-explosion-update-20130730,0,292178.story?track=rss

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