Tags: us_KS, industrial, explosion, death, dust
ATCHISON, Kan. - Most of the workers killed in a grain elevator explosion in Kansas were men younger than 25, reflective of the workforce that experts say in the norm in an industry that involves a lot of physical labor and tends to be dangerous.
Farmers take their grain to elevators to be stored and sometimes processed before it's marketed or sold. Fine, highly combustible grainparticles flow through the buildings as corn and other grain are moved, anda mere spark can ignite it and send a pressure wave that detonates the restof the floating dust.
Six people died and two others were seriously injured in the blast Saturday at the Bartlett Grain Co. elevator in Atchison, about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City. Conditions inside the facility, including unstable concrete and steel beams, prevented search crews from finding three of those killed until Monday.
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CHEMICAL SPILL CAUSES EVACUATION OF METCALF SCIENCE CENTER
Tags: us_MA, laboratory, release, response, diethyl_ether
The Boston Fire Department evacuated the Boston University Metcalf Science Center on Monday due to an ether spill in one of the laboratories.
The BFD responded after it received a call at about 6:45 p.m.,BFD spokesman Steve MacDonald said. About four liters of ether spilled in a laboratory on the fourth floor of the building. There was no evident cause ofthe leak, but there were students working in the laboratory at the time of the incident, MacDonald said.
He said that the BFD evacuated the entire building to avoid any potential hazards. Firefighters investigated with chemical tests and meters, and results came back within normal limits.
The nature of the chemical is not extremely dangerous in certain amounts, and does not require extensive cleanup. MacDonald said that the spill was "really minor,"but it is always important to follow guidelines.
"Ether pretty much evaporates into the air," MacDonaldsaid.
Officials allowed people back into the building, except for the fourth floor, within 45 minutes. MacDonald said that representatives from BU Environmental Health & Safety examined the fourth floor for any remaining risks.
Nobody on the scene required medical attention.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said that he is happy that officials followed procedure in cleaning up the spill and making sure that faculty and students were safe.
"There are guidelines andprocedures involved, and we're well prepared to handle incidents [such as these]," he said. "We do a very good job in that area."
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YOUROTTAWAREGION ARTICLE: HAZMAT CREWS RESPOND TO CHEMICAL REACTION NEAR BEECHWOOD
Tags: Canada, transportation, fire, response, hydrochloric_acid, waste
Ottawa Fire Services and hazmat crews responded to a chemical reaction in a garbage truck on Beechwood Avenue near Marquette Avenue in Ottawa's east end.
Spokesperson Marc Messier said the truck pulled up in front of the fire hall and had some smoke coming out of the back.
Messier said that muriatic acid in the back of the truck had reacted with another substance, but it's unknown what the other substance was.
He said the type of acid is known for its use in pools and scoring concrete.
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FERTILIZER SPILL SNARLS TRAFFIC ON I-5
Tags: us_OR, transportation, release, response, ag_chems
TUALATIN, OR (KPTV) -
The spill happened when a truck hauling 1,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer rear ended another vehicle. The fertilizer tank came off of its mount and leaked approximately 800 gallons of fertilizer onto the highway, firefighters said.
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue is working with ODOT, Oregon State Police, the DEQ and the company that owns the truck to coordinate the cleanup.
Two lanes of traffic are blocked on northbound I-5, just north of the I-205 on ramp. Traffic on I-205 is backed up to West Linn.
Traffic on I-5 north is also slow to Wilsonville.
Copyright 2011 KPTV. All rights reserved.
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CREWS PUT OUT FIRE AT NM LANDFILL
Tags: us_NM, public, fire, response, waste
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Good intentions almost became disaster Sunday at the Westside landfill's recycling center.
Firefighters were called to the Cerro Colorado site, after recycling workers reported fire in a stack of recyclables.
According to Bernalillo County Fire Officials, it appears thefire was the result of a chemical reaction involving improperly tossed materials.
"The fire was actually caused by some citizens or whoever does home recycling, threw some material into a bin at a local site," Commander Corey Finch said. "it was actually trucked over here and dumped, they noticed the fire and they tried to put it out with fire extinguishers but as soon as the air hit it, it did flare up."
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TANKER TRUCK FIRE CONTAINED IN BOSSIER CITY
Tags: us_LA, transportation, fire, response, HCl
Bossier City Fire Department worked a fire today when a tanker truck caught on fire as it drovedown Interstate 220
The incident happened around 1:45 p.m. when atanker truck driving west on the interstate when the driver noticed smoke coming from under the hood. According to a news release, the driver then pulled over and called 911. The truck was hauling hydrogen chloride, a corrosivechemical that's not flammable but can release toxic gases and vapors if it comes in contact with fire
When fire crews arrived the truck's cab was engulfed in flames. The fire was extingushed within 5 minutes by use fire suppressing foam. Firefighters kept the fire contained to the truck. The tanker trailer remained intactduring the incident and kept the chemical safely contained.
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HAZMAT SPILL PROMPTS 10 HOUR I-10 CLOSUREEAST OF INDIO
Tags: us_CA, transportation, release, response, diesel
A big rig crash on Interstate 10 led to a nearly 10 hour closure along the major freeway Monday.
According to California Highway Patrol reports, the two 18-wheelers crashed around 2:30 a.m., in the westbound lanes at Eagle Mountain Road, which is in between Chiriaco Summit and Desert Center.
Both lanes were temporarily blocked, while approximately 30 gallons of corn oil were spilled onto the roadway and 30 gallons of diesel fuel on the center median, prompting a HazMat response. In addition, "25 feet of metal guard rail in the center median was damaged and protruding into the #1 westbound lane of I-10," CHP spokesman Officer Joe Zagorski said
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