Chemical fire darkens KC skies
Hundreds evacuated; no injuries reported; air toxicity monitored
Firefighters battle flames at plant.
KANSAS CITY — Multiple explosions at a chemical distribution facility shook an industrial part of Kansas City on Wednesday, sending an ominous smoke cloud above the downtown skyline and prompting the evacuation of nearby schools, homes and businesses.
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A cloud of smoke shrouds the skyline of Kansas City on Wednesday, as a fire burns at a chemical plant in an industrial area of the city. The fire is located in a part of the city known as East Bottoms, just northeast of downtown. The smoke could be seen for miles across the metropolitan area. (CLIFF SCHIAPPA/The Associated Press)
No injuries were reported, but police cleared everyone from a one-mile radius around the Chemcentral facility, which stores and distributes various chemicals and solvents. Firefighters planned to let the blaze burn itself out.
Residents citywide were warned not to pick up debris carried by the dark cloud, although Fire Chief Richard Dyer said the material was not highly toxic. The cloud appeared to be dropping a sticky substance as it moved to the southwest, but Dyer said it was unlikely that anything falling was dangerous.
“None of these are what those of us in the field would call exotic chemicals. None of these have a high rating for toxicity,” Dyer said, adding that officials were monitoring the air within a two-mile radius.
The fire began about 2:20 p.m. after several 55-gallon drums containing chemicals exploded, touching off more explosions and fires, Kansas City Fire Marshal Floyd Peoples said.
More than four hours later, flames continued to shoot from one large chemical tank. Fire officials worried the intense heat would cause an explosion of three 30,000-gallon rail tank cars filled with mineral spirits that were parked on a nearby siding.
Images from the air showed smoke or steam venting from one of the cars, indicating that its pressure relief valve had activated,
Fire Battalion Chief Joe Vitale said the smoke had dissipated somewhat by 7 p.m., suggesting the heat had let up.
Firefighters were kept one mile from the site, concentrating instead on protecting nearby buildings from the radiant heat. The roof on a house within a block of the flames ignited, Vitale said, but firefighters quelled the flames before much damage was done.
Ken Hannon, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said a number of chemicals are at the property, including mineral spirits, turpentine and other solvents.
“I’m looking through the list. I’m not seeing anything that’s jumping out at me” as particularly hazardous, he said. “Flammability seems to be the main concern right now for most of these chemicals.”
Dan Brennan, an attorney at Chemcentral’s headquarters in Bedford Park, Ill., said the plant has 15 to 20 workers.
Dyer said the Chemcentral facility did not have a history of problems, but it is a location that has always troubled the fire department because of its proximity to a casino and residential neighborhoods.
“It’s a well-run facility with a pretty darn good safety record,” he said. “When you ask if it’s something that comes up as a problem facility — absolutely not.”