holy shit! Blue Rhino propane facility is blowing up just north of my town

[OriginalGeek]

tanks are flying all over the place - people reporting you can see it for miles...there were several delivery trucks all set up for morning deliveries that are all engulfed in flame right now...10 employees unaccounted for...

http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGKWE0BIM/2013/07/30/video-a-propane-factory-fire-in-tavares-florida

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/major-explosion-fire-at-propane-facility-in-tavares/-/1637132/21239266/-/xjbrv6z/-/index.html


Hoping that's not too close to Baitball Blogger...it's about 15 miles from my Grandpa's house...

[csziggy]

1. Fire trucks can't get in because of continued explosions

Apparently, this is a place that refills tanks for BBQs and home use. Racks of filled tanks have exploded, thrown out unexploded tanks that could still and that continue to explode.

Live coverage:
http://livewire.wesh.com/Event/Live_updates_Explosions_reported_in_Tavares

[HarveyDarkey]

2. Had one, not that big I'm guessing, hit by lightning a few years ago when I lived in Indianapolis

it was pretty spectacular.

As for yours, it's on Facebook already:

[elleng]

3. Explosions Rock Propane Plant in Central Florida.

A series of explosions rocked a propane gas plant in central Florida, northwest of Orlando, on Monday night, an emergency dispatch official said, and local media reported that homeowners living within a mile of the facility were being evacuated.

There was no immediate word on whether anyone had been injured or killed in the blasts, which began at about 11 p.m. EDT in the town of Tavares, Florida, the Lake County dispatcher told Reuters.

He said fire department and other emergency crews were being dispatched to the scene.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/07/30/us/30reuters-usa-blasts-florida.html?hp&_r=0

[csziggy]

4. Presser on WESH now

OVER 53,000 propane tanks at facility before the fire!

24 workers at plant - 15 unaccounted for so far. 2 people got out safe and uninjured.

Evacuated 1/2 mile around the plant. No injuries other than the ones at the plant.

Still going on.

[OriginalGeek]

5. They are finally able to get close enough to get water on the fire

those tanks were exploding and flying all over earlier...

[csziggy]

6. Seven people transported to hospitals - UPDATE

3 in critical condition, 1 to burn unit at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, 3 drove themselves to the hospital, not sure if those 3 in the 7 counted as "transported".

Crews checked surrounding area, not a lot of damage outside the plant area, though some propane tanks laying around that were thrown out by initial explosion.

Some of the 15 previously unaccounted for have been located, no clear number on how many still missing.

UPDATE - "management reporting all workers have been accounted for." "No fatalities."

Apparently workers scattered and it's taken this long for them to regroup and report in. 24-26 workers on site, 7 people injured.

[In_The_Wind]

7. Holy crap!

[steve2470]

8. terrible accident, I feel bad for the burn victims nt

[Ptah]

9. Oh my!

[Demoiselle]

10. What a terrible thing!

I worry about the little propane tank that sits outside in my grill. This accident must be absolutely horrific. I hope all those people get relief from their pain and injuries soon.