Category: Accidents

Accident Description
Explosions and fire at a hazardous waste facility forced the evacuation of approximately 16,000 residents from Apex, North Carolina, on October 5, 2006. The incident likely began in the oxidizer section of the EQ North Carolina waste facility, where chemicals such as pool chlorination tablets were stored. The fire was allowed to burn out and the facility was destroyed.

Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was issued at a news conference on April 16, 2008.         

Accident Description
During the early morning hours of November 22, a powerful explosion destroyed the CAI/Arnel ink and paint manufacturing facility in Danvers, Massachusetts. Scores of nearby homes and businesses were damaged, some beyond repair. A number of residents were hospitalized. There were no injuries in the plant, which was unoccupied at the time.

Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was approved by a vote of the Board at a public meeting in Danvers, Massachusetts, on May 13, 2008.         

Accident Description
On July 17, 2007, explosions and fire erupted at the Barton Solvents facility in Valley Center, Kansas, north of Wichita. The incident led to the evacuation of thousands of residents and resulted in projectile damage offsite, as well as extensive damage to the facility.

Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was issued at a news conference in Wichita, Kansas, on June 26, 2008.         

Accident Description
On February 16, 2007, a propane fire erupted at the Valero McKee Refinery in Sunray, Texas, north of Amarillo. Three workers suffered serious burns, and the refinery was forced to shut down. The fire began following a leak in the propane deasphalting unit and spread quickly, in part because of the rapid collapse of a major pipe rack carrying flammable hydrocarbons. Some of the rack’s support columns had not been fireproofed.

Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was issued at a news conference in Amarillo, Texas, on July 9, 2008.         

Accident Description
Four people were killed and five others were seriously injured when propane vapors from a storage tank ignited and exploded at the Little General convenience store and gas station in Ghent, West Virginia. Propane was used as fuel inside the building, which was completely destroyed.

Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was approved by the Board at a public meeting in Beckley, West Virginia, on September 25, 2008.