subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sat, Nov 21 2009 

Published: May 23, 2009 07:20 pm    print this story   email this story  

Cause of Friday night explosion, fire still unknown

By Brian M. Boyce
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE Snap, crackle, bam!

Workers were on-site Saturday afternoon at CF Industries, sopping up oil from the ground and repairing equipment after a large electrical explosion occurred at the substation there Friday night.

“We had an oil field circuit breaker that was damaged,” CF site superintendent Jeff Christian said at the facility on U.S. 41 North near Rosedale.

One of the breakers, which contain about 300 gallons of oil each, exploded about 9:30 p.m. Friday evening, rippling the air with noise heard as far away as downtown Terre Haute.

Christian said only about 100 gallons of oil was lost in the incident and two identical components next to the one damaged remained intact. “Operationally, it had no consequences for us,” he said, noting the plant has emergency procedures in case of such an event.

No injuries were reported, he added.

The substation sets between anhydrous ammonia tanks and large storage facilities, but is far enough removed that the product was not in danger, he and other CF personnel said.

“We don’t know what the cause was yet,” he said, noting about 10 workers on the premises working there that afternoon.

The metal poles of the substation structure were blackened from the heat, and material pads were spread around to soak up the oil.

Otter Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Myers said Saturday about 25 firefighters responded from his department. Emergency responders managed to keep the other two components cooled off while using foam to quell the fire emanating from the third, he said.

“We didn’t want to get those involved,” he said, adding members of his department remained on site until about 1:45 a.m.

According to the CF Industries Web site, “The Terre Haute Ammonia Terminal receives ammonia via pipeline from the company’s Donaldsonville nitrogen complex and by rail on the CSX rail line from its Medicine Hat nitrogen complex. It ships ammonia to customers via truck.”

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.

print this story   email this story  



Photos


Cooling oil: Thick black smoke pours from transformers at CF Industries Friday night. According to Jeff Christian, site superintendent for CF Industries about 100 gallons of the oil used to cool the transformers went up in smoke. Jim Avelis/The Tribune-Star (Click for larger image)



Television Tonight

Terre Haute Progress Retail health medical manufacturing education

Terre Haute



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Terre Haute

Terre Haute News Morning Headlines

Terre Haute ClickLocal

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Dial-A-Pro

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Live in the Clubs

Terre Haute News on Twitter

Today's Featured Jobs

Medical Lab Technician or Medical Technologist
Medical Lab Technician or
Medical Technologist
Immediate Full Time
opening
ASCP or equivalent certi
...>MORE

A/P Mechanic
A/P MECHANIC
Full Time. Military ex-
perience accepted
or prior work exp.
Send resume to
73
...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Featured Autos

94 LeSabre
94 Buick LeSabre,
91K mi., good
shape, $2250-obo.
299-0711, 208-1988
...>MORE

93 Ford F150
93 Ford F150 Short
Bed, 302 V8, 106k.
mi. $2500 obo
(812)249-9142

...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Featured Homes

1 Bdrm
now available
1 bdrm apts.
Call (812)466-5665
...>MORE

1345S 20th
1345 S. 20 3bdrm, or
2bdrm, & FR, new
paint, LR, utility room,
new kit. & BA. CA,
1 car gar w/ope
...>MORE

See all ads

Today's Cool Stuff

AKC Mini Schnauzers
akc mini Schnauz-
ers S/P, B/S, wht
worm/shot vet ck
$200-up, M/C-Visa
(812)448-3945

...>MORE

Restaurant Equipment
restauranT Equip
for sale 898-2474 or
870-1257
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index