West Fertilizer Fire Case Study

597 Words2 Pages

First fertilizer was retail and distribution facility in West Texas which was 80 miles west of Dallas. The 12,000 square foot building was constructed with compostable material but mostly wood, it stored Ammonium nitrate and other chemicals used as fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate was mainly used in Oklahoma for dangerous bombing in 1995. Ammonium nitrate is filled with Nitromethane which is an organic compound that contains nitrogen and oxygen. Fertilizer Company was founded in 1962 and from the date it was founded, the company supplied chemicals to many farmers till the fired occurred. There were several public places located next to Texas Fertilizer Company which were intermediate school, high school, playground, apartment complex and nursing …show more content…

After the involvement of Chemical Safety Board, it was proven that Texas had 80 plants that stored more than 5 tons of ammonium nitrate. Therefore, 19 plants had to be stores near the school, hospital, and nursing home which was the west fertilizer building. However, it was undermined for the CSB to identify where the fire actually begun. Not only that West Fertilizer company was burned, but many places that were surrounded around fertilizer building were damaged. This incident resulted in 15 deaths and 260 injures. Based on the research, it was a criminal act, therefore, the lawsuit was filed against Adair Grain Inc. Meanwhile, it was clear that Bryce Reed wasn’t involved in the fertilizer explosion after the trail. Federal court has proven the point based on the death of friends, family, neighbor of Mr. Reed in the explosion. According to the town, Reed was one of the greatest medical technicians, therefore, he made his case stronger by telling that he was the one helping evacuate the area during the fire. McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara did not manage to find any evidence against

Open Document