Several large explosions reported at Florida gas plant

[Warpy]

Source: CBS News

Emergency officials in Lake County, Fla., confirmed there were multiple injuries after reported propane explosions rocked a gas plant.

Images showed a massive blast at a Blue Rhino plant in Tavares, about an hour north of Orlando.

Residents told the Orlando Sentinel that thousands of 30-foot-high propane tanks continued to explode every minute or two as of 11:25 p.m. ET.

"Shook my house and I live at least 4 miles away," tweeted Marc Strand, who took a picture of the flames and smoke from his home.

According to their website, Blue Rhino is a propane tank exchange brand, as well as a leading designer and marketer of barbecue grills, outdoor heaters, mosquito traps, and other outdoor appliances

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57596065/reports-several-large-explosions-at-fla-gas-plant/

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This is one of those stories that might get a bit bigger after daybreak.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. Looks like a job for,...Zimmerman!

[JoePhilly]

9. Lol!!

[jberryhill]

2. What could possibly explode there?

I'm sure this will require a long and extensive investigation absolving anyone of any responsibility.

[KT2000]

3. Ha! Well said

and the truth.

[wordpix]

4. let me guess - this plant has been cited for multiple violations previously

Just a guess, but that's the way these things typically go

[surrealAmerican]

15. ... or hasn't been inspected for years, because ...

... the state decided it couldn't afford to do all these inspections, and inspections only "punish" "job creators" anyway.

[wordpix]

22. news from 4 hr. ago

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50151966n

[greyl]

5. Video: "Explosions Rock Blue Rhino Propane Plant In Central Tavares Florida"

[Archae]

6. Reminds me of a "King of The Hill" episode.

[kentauros]

7. "thousands of 30-foot-high propane tanks"? I think not.

The residents don't know what they're talking about if that quote were true. In fact, there likely wouldn't be any residents left if it were true.

Here's some better info from RT:

Massive explosions rock Florida propane plant (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Published time: July 30, 2013 04:02
Edited time: July 30, 2013 06:23

A series of gas explosions at a LP tank exchange plant in Lake County, Florida has injured at least 7 people. Witnesses said vibrations from the powerful blasts could be felt several towns over.

The series of explosions began at about 10:30 p.m. local time. According to the Orlando Sentinel, witnesses compared the sound to fireworks or loud shotgun fire. Apparently the initial blasts completely destroyed the two large LP storage tanks, which the plant used to refill smaller backyard tanks.

“I heard a loud bomb sound,” said Lisa Garner, who lives nearby in the Tavares subdivision of Lakeside. “I thought somebody ran into my house.”

A night shift crew of 24 to 26 people was at the plant when the explosions started, according to Lt. John Herrell, a Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman. All of them have been accounted for, although there is slight chance that somebody was present at the facility without the management knowing about it he said.

(more at link)

[Warpy]

8. No, the big tanks were a distance away from the trucks

which were loaded with the type of tanks you see on backyard BBQ grills. The problem there was that those small tanks would take off like rockets once they ruptured, spreading fire wherever they landed. The big tanks didn't blow up but they were threatened by the fire.

[kentauros]

11. I understand that part. It's that the resident either

didn't know what they were talking about in their description (likely) or the reporter got the quote wrong (also likely.) Because if there were thousands of 30-foot tall propane tanks exploding, there would not be any residents to interview.

[Warpy]

13. There wouldn't be any residents to interview if those big tanks had gone up

The way the small tanks were shooting up in the air and then pinwheeling around on the ground, I'd say everybody but the insurance company got very lucky.

[kentauros]

18. I can't view the video (YT is blocked, yet we can stream online radio!)

And yes, had "just" those two tanks exploded, the area would have been flattened. It would have been West, Texas all over again.

[wordpix]

12. your link says 53,000 20-gallon tanks

[kentauros]

17. Yes, it does.

I was quoting the OP quote where the residents were saying "thousands of 30-foot tall tanks" were blowing up, and I was disputing that. There wouldn't be anyone left to interview had that been truly the case.

[Elmergantry]

10. In an ominous sign,

Just yesterday the valve on my BR tank broke off.

Kind of hard to understadn the engineering but I can close the tank, but cant open it all the way. Heat is way too low and take a month of Sundays to cook a burger.

So Im screwed. Gotta replace the nearly full tank of propane ad buy another. Should of just put a match to it and enjoy the fireworks.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

14. I really hope the employees got out safe (if any were on site at the time)...

but I fear the worst.

[Warpy]

16. They're all accounted for, they scattered in all directions when the fire started

8 were injured and 3 are critical.

[valerief]

19. Yes but wind turbines are "unsightly". nt

[wordpix]

20. and fracking doesn't contaminate groundwater

[daleo]

21. And you can see solar panels from space (which is terrible for some reason)

The latest right wing anti-solar meme that I heard a few days ago.

[valerief]

23. Holy crap. Bullshit disguised as insanity reigns in our culture. nt