My throat started hurting @ 1:40 Now I can barely talk it hurts so bad

I live 4 miles East of This

Posted on Thu, Jul. 28, 2005
Explosions, fire hit solvent plantBy Deanna Boyd, Aman Batheja and Scott StreaterStar-Telegram Staff WritersFORT WORTH _ A huge explosion at a chemical plant in north Fort Worth Thursday afternoon created a tornado-like fire and sent at least three people to the hospital.Firefighters from Fort Worth and Haltom City were battling the blaze at Valley Solvents & Chemicals on Northeast 33rd Street that began around 1:30 p.m.At 2:45 p.m. periodic explosions could be heard as the contents of various chemical vats ignited. The fire created a swirling tower of black smoke."It sounded like and looked like a tornado," said Jeff Maxwell, 53, who was having lunch nearby.All employees had been accounted for, the plant's general manger told fire officials.At least six chemicals were involved in the blaze, several of which are listed as toxic by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Among the chemicals involved were methanol, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, napthalene and isopropyl alcohol, fire officials said.Napthalene is a known human carcinogen. Sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid are lung irritants.Some of the chemicals were stored in vats holding up to 4,000 gallons, fire officials said.Witnesses across the street from the plant reported hearing an explosion, looked behind them and saw fire and a column of smoke. One man injured himself diving under a tractor-trailer.Witnesses told firefighters the blaze appeared to have began in an area where a truck had recently pulled up and started unloading.Fire officials said they had considered letting the blaze burn out on its own, both because of the amount of water it would take to battle the blaze and because of the concerns with runoff from the site. But several water cannons could be seen battling the blaze on TV coverage.Three men were transported to JPS Hospital with minor burns; all were listed in good condition. Another employee was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth, according to a MedStar ambulance spokeswoman.About a dozen employees were at the plant at the time of the blaze.Much of the area near the fire was being evacuated, residents said.Winds were traveling from north-northeast across Fort Worth at the time of the fire, said Gary Woodall, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.Woodall said the wind was traveling at 7 mph at ground level and at 13 miles about 500 feet above the ground."It is, of course, going to carry the smoke flume downstream. It'll take it south-southwest basically," Woodall said.The National Weather Service's Fort Worth office called the Fort Worth Emergency Management Office at 1:45 p.m. and relayed a wind profile to help them better respond to the incident, Woodall said.Woodall explained that the information can help officials in an number of ways."It can help as to where to set up their response units and field command posts and things of that sort," he said.Mayor Mike Moncrief, who was watching the fire on television from City Hall, said he was staying away from the scene to give firefighters room to work. He was getting periodic updates by telephone."I'm very sorry about what took place," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are going out to those injured and their families. We hope they will survive and recover from the injuries."

Do you think My throat should be checked?