Welding supply in Tulsa blows up, starts many fires. Important because

[karlschneider]

even though it's a "small" event, compared to for example 9/11, the emergency services are unable to address it. Many houses on fire and most all cell phone circuits are overloaded and not working. Here's what I put in LBN a bit ago:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=71710

I shudder to think how much worse it would be if there were something more significant (as in a 'terist' attack). Homeland Security? Right.

(I'm several miles away, watching it all on the local TV chans) Oh, just
now helicopter video showing thousands of acetylene tanks right next to a dozen burning cars & buildings. When they blow up, they're like napalm missiles......

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. And still nothing on nets, nothing on wires

This is weird.

[aquart]

4. I just saw it on the news. But whether ABC, CBS, or NBC...

Don't know. I was surfing.

[madrchsod]

2. just saw it

on cnbc....hmmm another voting machine story -cali recall....

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. I saw a thing on OK paper, called it "dump burns" and

something about xplosions near highway, but it was a have to reg paper, so I didnt see the whole story.

What is strange to me is that none of the nets are tapping the tulsa affiliate, they love this kind of thing.

[karlschneider]

6. Well, it probably doesn't rate much if any national coverage, but I just

wanted to point out how much havoc a small local 'event' could cause. Our local CBS tv station has reported they lost power and that much of downtown Tulsa also did. Apparently the fires melted some transmission lines. The whole thing is just a few square blocks and has created a huge crisis...I just have to wonder how much worse it would be if it involved one of the local refineries for example. Thankfully, nobody seems to have been hurt, let alone killed.

[DuctapeFatwa]

8. Explosions rock Tulsa neighborhood, huge fire burns business, homes

Gas products at a Tulsa distributor exploded Monday afternoon, sending huge fireballs and thick black smoke into the sky and spreading fire to nearby houses, buildings and cars.

Firefighters were dispatched to Airgas Mid South at 31 N. Peoria Ave. around 4:30 p.m.

Rapid explosions continued for at least 15 minutes, while the fire continued to rage and spread just north of Interstate 244 on the Inner Dispersal Loop. Blowing smoke, also forced closing of U.S. 75 as far north at Harvard Avenue

Authorities shut down the highway and evacuated buildings in the area.

Officials blamed fiery debris thrown by the explosions for housefires as far as 500 yards away from the site of the blasts. It was not immediately known if anyone was injured. Company officials said all employees were accounted for.

Airgas Mid South's parent company, Airgas, Inc., is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety and related products, according to the corporation's Web site. Its integrated network of nearly 800 locations includes branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers, the Web site says.

Airgas Mid South reportedly serves customers from 54 locations in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, North Texas, Missouri, Northern Louisiana, Western Tennessee, and Northwest Mississippi and employs 740 associates.

The Tulsa facility, built in 1945, reportedly employs 50 people.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/BreakingNewsStory.asp?ID=030818_Br_airgas2

[TheBigGuy]

3. Air Products?

They make all those industrial gasses. They run those refrigirated LOX trucks....pretty scary buisness.

[JackSwift]

7. I hope everyone gets clear

and that copter is way too close. Welding equipment is highly dangerous.

[nostamj]

9. it's the lead story on MSNBC now (7:30 eastern)

reporting that all employees accounted for.

still not under control

[Old and In the Way]

10. Used to work at a welding gas supply business.

They've got hydrogen gas in bottles as well as oxygen. Plus bulk refrigerated liquid gases. I can only imagine what a catastrophe that is creating.

[NYC]

11. Still no cause known?

?

[TNDemo]

12. This is kinda odd because we had a welding supply co. explosion

here in Nashville last week. Hmm. Something up with welding supply places? I remember the owner saying he had been in business 30 years and never had this happen before. Don't know if I ever found out exactly what caused it. I think I heard propane mentioned but didn't know the particulars.

[karlschneider]

13. I don't think they had any propane there...and of course the bobbing heads

all freak about "oxygen!!!!!!!" which of course is not flammable...
:grr:
(yes, I know how it is an oxidizer, just venting)
:eyes: