Why did the fertilizer plant in West Texas explode?
The explosion occurred after a fire broke out in the plant. Investigators from the Texas Department of Insurance and State Fire Marshall’s Office concluded ammonium nitrate was the cause of the explosion.
What happened at the West Texas fertilizer plant?
On April 17, 2013, firefighters responded to a fire at the West Fertilizer Company, a storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, a town of approximately 2,900 north of Waco. While crews worked to contain the fire, the site exploded, leveling homes, businesses and other buildings, including a nearby school.
What plant blew up in Texas today?
Fire breaks out in Baytown, Texas HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – An explosion at an ExxonMobil plant in Texas injured four people early Thursday, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The oil plant said the fire broke out around 1 a.m. in Baytown, Texas, east of Houston.
What exploded in West Texas?
Fifteen people were killed, more than 160 were injured, and more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Investigators confirmed that ammonium nitrate was the material that exploded….West Fertilizer Company explosion.
| Explosion site several days after the event | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 17, 2013 |
| Time | 7:50:38 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
How many people died in the West Fertilizer explosion?
15
On April 17, 2013, the West Fertilizer Company’s storage and distribution facility exploded, killing 15 and injuring more than 150. The blast leveled city blocks and left a crater 93 feet wide and 12 feet deep. The people of West have been rebuilding ever since. On Saturday, the long-awaited memorial was unveiled.
Who started the West Texas explosion?
In 2013, a fertilizer plant in West, Texas caught fire and the flames reacted with the ammonia stored at the plant to create a massive explosion. As a result, the entire plant went up in flames and an explosion registered at a 2.1 magnitude, leveling houses near the industrial site.
Is ammonium nitrate an explosive?
“Ammonium nitrate is a major industrial chemical with two principal uses – as fertiliser and as an explosive.
Why do fertilizer plants explode?
At high temperatures, ammonium nitrate can create toxic nitrogen oxide and ammonia and can cause an explosion.
At what temperature does ammonium nitrate explode?
Ammonium nitrate would only explode on its own if its temperature was rapidly raised to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Compared to most combustible materials, ammonium nitrate itself is not exceptionally explosive. But the compound can contribute to explosions because it belongs to a chemical class known as oxidizers.
What does ammonium nitrate look like?
Ammonium Nitrate is an odorless, colorless, white to gray crystalline (sand-like) flake, bead or granule. It is used to make explosives, matches, fertilizers, and antibiotics.
Which fertilizer is explosive?
That’s because ammonium nitrate, a chemical commonly used in agricultural fertilizers, is a highly explosive compound, as shown by the massive fireball at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, Texas, Wednesday (April 17).