Rubbertown residents told to stay indoors after chemical plant fire

[nadinbrzezinski]

Source: Courier Journal

Rubbertown residents within a mile of Carbide Industries, 4400 Bells Lane, are being told to stay indoors until further notice after an explosion Monday afternoon at the plant, Louisville Metro Police said.

Police asked the National Weather Service to send out the alert through the emergency broadcast system, the supervisor said.

Firefighters were called to the plant at least one person was reported to have been burned.

MetroSafe said the fire was reported at 5:40 p.m. at Carbide Industries, 4400 Bells Lane.

Carbide Industries’ website describes the business as North America's largest producer of calcium carbide products, with plants located in Louisville and Calvert City.

“Perhaps best recognized as the primary source of acetylene gas for metal fabrication and construction, calcium carbide is also a vital ingredient in the manufacture of many specialty chemicals,” the website says.

The company was previously known as Carbide/Graphite Group. It was purchased by Carbide Industries in 2002.

As of 6:35 p.m., the city’s Rubbertown Community Awareness Line of Louisville, or RCALL, had no information about the incident. City officials established the phone line, 502-574-2580, in 2004 to convey information to residents about chemical incidents.

Details on what chemical was involved were not immediately available.




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Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110321/NEWS01/303210088/Rubbertown-residents-told-stay-indo

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It might matter to DU'ers leaving in KY... take care guys.

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Thought this was related to Union Carbide at first glance.

[road2000]

2. Thanks...

From just below Cincinnati on the Ohio. I'll check the local news.

[fatbuckel]

3. We`re not gonna call for the end of all things rubber,now are we?

[Orrex]

4. Don't worry--we'll bounce back.

[KT2000]

5. No....BUT

we should ask for safety and environmental oversight that the law allows.