Alabama http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/fire_fighters_called_to_mitsub.html Firefighters called to Mitsubuishi Polycrystalline plant when chemical reactor overheats By Jillian Kramer January 16, 2010, 9:26PM THEODORE, Ala. -- Mobile firefighters stood by tonight as employees of the Mitsubishi Polycrystalline plant in Theodore tried to cool down a reactor that heated up during a power outage, according to fire officials. The power went out at the plant, on Mitsubishi Lane near Rangeline Road, about 8 p.m., according to Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman. During the outage, Huffman said, a reactor containing chemicals heated up, and firefighters were called to the area in case plant workers couldn't cool it back down. About 9 p.m., after the power came back on, the reactor cooled down, Huffman said. Nothing caught fire in the plant, he said, and no one was hurt. === London, UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8464387.stm Two ill after chemical leak at central London hotel A central London hotel was evacuated overnight after ammonia leaked from a refrigerator in one of its rooms. Two people were taken to hospital and 30 people had to leave the Best Western Hotel on Devonshire Terrace at 0230 GMT on Sunday. The London Fire Brigade removed the fridge and ventilated the rooms. The London Ambulance Service, which was called at 0320 GMT, said it treated two people who were taken to St Mary's Hospital in central London. "We are investigating all the rooms which have fridges," the hotel spokeswoman said. "All these rooms have been taken out of service until we have finished our investigation." The hotel was evacuated for about 45 minutes. === Arkansas http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Marianna-Chemical-Fire-Cl ean-Up/TwWA74pNKEWgVT2u1ABcow.cspx Marianna Chemical Fire Clean-Up Reported by: Allison Sossaman Email: asossaman**At_Symbol_Here**myeyewitnessnews.com Last Update: 1/16 10:17 pm Print Story | ShareThis =09 MARIANNA, AR - People in Marianna, Arkansas were forced out of their homes by a chemical fire. Now, some have burning questions about the dangerous smoke that filled their neighborhood. Marianna is in Lee County, more than an hour's drive West of Memphis. There were several workers in the building when the fire started. It's not clear what happened at the farm product storage facility, but the company, Jimmy Sanders, Inc., says there was work being done on the roof when those inside saw something fall through the ceiling. What happened next could be seen from miles away. Paula Young lives in apartments just behind the warehouse. =93I went outside and saw this big ball of smoke,=94 Young said. =93It was just black, horrific, thick smoke.=94 Hazmat crews stayed overnight and all day Saturday cleaning up the mess. All that stands now is a pile of burnt rubble, but Paula's still worried about what she saw Friday. =94It was horrifying,=94 Young said. =93I couldn=92t believe what I was seeing, and all these little kids were running around. You could actually smell it, because my eyes are still burning. My nose and my mouth.=94 The Jimmy Sanders facility stores and distributes farm products. =93We have common farm chemicals that are used on crops like corn, cotton and soybeans across the region,=94 said Executive Vice President Barry Knight. =93They are some of the same products you have in your house.=94 The Marianna Fire Chief, Rodney Herndon, said his department was prepared to handle the toxic situation. =93Jimmy Sanders always gives us material safety data sheets on the chemicals they have in store,=94 Herndon said. =93And we just pulled our fire pre-plan on them and worked our plan.=94 They let the fire burn itself out. Their main concern was the smoke. =93We've got people on the other side of the county to make sure that none of it's going in anybody's houses,=94 said Herndon. =93To see that nobody will be affected, any pets or livestock or anything of that nature.=94 Some people who left their homes returned a few hours later. Paula young wanted to wait until this morning. =93Those kids, they were out playing yesterday,=94 Young said. =93They inhaled all this stuff. I'm going to the doctor. My immune system's already compromised. I don't need anything else.=94 We're told there were things like pesticides and fertilizers inside the facility. Things that can be very toxic, but it's unclear if anyone was exposed to the smoke long enough for it to do serious damage. A company spokesperson says a million dollars worth of inventory was destroyed. No one was injured in the fire.
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post