Major chemical explosion in Waco...

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by Kira's Mom, Apr 18, 2013.

  1. Robert Maxwell

    Robert Maxwell memelord Premium Member

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    I read a very brief blurb that it was caused by the battery of an electronic cigarette.
     
  2. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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    Here is footage from another angle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLWw24OQFdQ

    The blast isn't anything new--From the wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_Disaster

    "A two-ton anchor of Grandcamp was hurled 1.62 miles (2.61 km) and found in a 10-foot (3 m) crater....The other main five-ton anchor was hurled 1/2 mile (800 m) to the entrance of the Texas City Dike." http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMG39G_1947_Explosion_of_the_SS_High_Flyer_Texas_City_TX

    Two small aircraft were downed in flight from the shockwave.

    Video of the explosions--see High Flyer go up near the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8_KaWg5bI8&feature=player_embedded#!


    You do not need fuel oil for ammonium nitrate to be explosive, as proven in this book:
    http://www.amazon.com/Texas-City-Disaster-1947/dp/029277723X?tag=viglink127814-20
    The citation I have for the substance to be explosive without any oil is as follows:

    U.S. Army, Ordnance Department, Picatinny Arsenal, "Explosibility of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer: Lecture by Wm. H. Rinkenback, 13 February 1948" p. 8

    There is a nice work called the Bibliography of the Texas City Explosion, prepared by the Reference Staff of the Moore Memorial Public Library 1-409-643-5975 and a nice book called: A PICTORIAL HISTORY, TEXAS CITY EXPLOSION, 1947

    Frankly, I'm surprised Michael Bey and Joe Viskocil haven't done this for a movie. You need a bang at the start of a film, and at the end. Grandcamp and High Flyer supply this--bookend detonations.

    The incident could actually have been worse--there was a ship full of naptha that was headed for the port. This ranks right up there with Halifax.In the West, Texas case, it seems a fire caused a tank of anhydrous ammonia to explode.

    "West Fertilizer Co. reported having as much as 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on hand in an emergency planning report to the Environmental Protection Agency and local officials, according to the Morning News. In the report, the company said it had no fire or explosive risks."

    "The worst possible scenario, the report said, would be a 10-minute release of ammonia gas that would kill or injure no one."
    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-texas-blast-20130418,0,6443336.story

    This is what you get when folks water down "anti-business regulations."

    In the July 9, 1998 edition of THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS we find the article (paper only) "Fire Chief opposes 'hazmat' exemption." There was a move to exempt agricultural retailers from proposed federal hazmat regulations on shipments within state borders--it would allow more than 16,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate to be on the road without placards. I forget how things shook out.
     
  3. Gil T.Azell

    Gil T.Azell Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I see the idiot conspiracy theories are starting to show up for this one. :rolleyes: