2 Dead After Explosion in Michigan Chemical Company
Subject: 2 Dead After Explosion in Michigan...........
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 14:38:39 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an article entitled: 2 Dead After Explosion in Michigan. http://news.excite.com/news/ap/010714/10/news-chemical-fire
Updated: Sat, Jul 14 10:46 AM EDT
By LAURA POTTS, Associated Press Writer
RIVERVIEW, Mich. (AP) - Two men died and a third was missing following an explosion and fire at a chemical factory on Saturday.
Hundreds of homes were evacuated following the explosion at the ATOFINA Chemicals Inc. plant.
The victims were employees Edwin J. Wrobleski, 47, and Kenneth J. Cox, 56, said company spokeswoman Jane Crawford. The missing worker's name was not immediately released.
A railcar that contained a dangerous chemical and was parked at the factory exploded about 4:30 a.m. and was still burning six hours later, said company engineer Ron Potier.
About 400 homes were evacuated in Grosse Ile Township, which is on an island across the Detroit River from this suburban Detroit community. Another 40 homes were evacuated near the factory, but the area is mostly industrial, said Riverview fire Capt. Ken Williamson.
Williamson said he could not release any information about possible injuries
The burning chemical was methyl mercaptan, or methanethiol, a flammable substance used in pharmaceutical and agricultural products.
"It's extremely dangerous if inhaled directly," said Grosse Ile Township Clerk Ute O'Connor, describing the chemical's smell as like "really bad body odor."
"We're playing it safe in case the wind shifts," she said. "We're basically saying if you can get off the island, go."
Canadian authorities closed a portion of the Detroit River to boaters until further notice because of the fire, said U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jeff Dale.
ATOFINA, headquartered in Philadelphia, has 4,000 employees in 20 plants in North America and 16 others worldwide. The Riverview plant is the company's oldest, opened in 1898. It has 212 workers, said company spokeswoman Connie Wickersham.
ATOFINA is owned by owned by TotalFina Elf of Paris.
Well Mr. Helliker, just another proof that you can not predict nor prevent accidents when you decide to use dangerous chemicals.
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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