Explosions in Downtown Dallas

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:11 PM

Huge flames and heavy black smoke are pouring from a site in the 700 block of N. Industrial near downtown Dallas.

Nearby businesses including the SPCA are being evacuated.

I-30 and I-35 through downtown are closed down.

From our FOX 4 tower cam, it appears that there are multiple explosions happening at the welding supply company.

Crews on the scene say there are about 100 fuel tanks on the ground which have been exploding.

Dallas firefighters are on the scene but are staying back because of the intensity of the 3-alarm fire and explosions.

An eyewitness who works in the nearby courthouse says the explosions are causing that building to shake.

OTer Grasshopper works downtown, took this pic from the 19th floor of his building:

Pics from Fox 4 News Tower Cam:

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:14 PM

Looks like the explosions took out a chunk of the interwebz too. The Dallas Morning News website and WFAA 8 (ABC affiliate) website are both down. Both are owned by the Belo Corporation, which has offices near the site.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:18 PM

To show where exactly this is in relation to the rest of Dallas, here is a mapquest shot ... the star is over 700 N. Industrial Blvd:

The Trinity River (greenbelt to the left of the star) pretty much bisects downtown Dallas, so this is right smack in the core of downtown.

motivez · 07-25-2007, 12:20 PM

Jeez, what caused it?

I hope none of the explosions threaten any buildings structural integrity..

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Jeez, what caused it?

I hope none of the explosions threaten any buildings structural integrity..

The County Courthouse is JUST under a mile away and people there said that it was being shaken by the explosions. Don't know the cause yet.

Ardentfrost · 07-25-2007, 12:24 PM

CNN is saying a truck caught fire behind somewhere that had tanks of liquefied natural gas. One tank went up, and then it was a chain reaction from tank to tank.

I blame Publius.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

CNN is saying a truck caught fire behind somewhere that had tanks of liquefied natural gas. One tank went up, and then it was a chain reaction from tank to tank.

I blame Publius.

But I'm minding my own business at the cemetery, like 15 miles away.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:28 PM

I-35 passes within 500 feet of the site of the explosions, hopefully there isn't any damage to the highway as that is the main north-south artery through Dallas. I-30, the main east-west artery, is a little farther south but still within half a mile.

It's also within a mile of the American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks.

Linzyhop · 07-25-2007, 12:30 PM

jesus.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:35 PM

oh geez

Originally Posted by GrassHopper

From another forum

Originally Posted by some guy

Anyone see the idiot trying to put it out with a garden hose before the whole plant blew up?

Hayseeds ...I hope he's ok

Publius · 07-25-2007, 12:37 PM

So far at least two people injured... Another pic from Fox 4 News:

Publius · 07-25-2007, 01:08 PM

One of the counselors here just came in this room, "does anybody have a radio? I was just talking to my wife and she said there were some explosions at several buildings downtown. The first thing I thought of obviously was terrorism."

Way to be like an hour late and assuming too much.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 01:33 PM

News story updated with the believed cause...

Flames and heavy black smoke began pouring from Southwest Industrial Gases in the 700 block of N. Industrial Boulevard at about 9:30 a.m.
Two people suffered burns and were listed in serious condition at Parkland Hospital.

Acteylene gas tanks were the suspected cause, FOX 4 News reported.

Buddy Dean of GWS Welding Supply said the blast happened when a delivery driver for that company was attempting to have empty canisters refilled.
The blast spewed flaming debris into the surrounding area, igniting several vehicles and possible structures.

It also sent potentially toxic ash raining down onto portions of the city. Emergency workers responded by distributing breathing masks to people in the area.

Nearby businesses, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ,were being evacuated.

Interstates 30 and 35 through downtown are closed down.

FOX 4 video showed that flames had engulfed thousands of fuel tanks on the ground.

Dallas firefighters are at the scene but are staying back because of the intensity of the three-alarm fire.

Publius · 07-25-2007, 01:36 PM

now THAT is quite a picture

Publius · 07-25-2007, 01:41 PM

A friend that works at Parkland Hospital (not a doctor, IT guy) says it looks like one of the injured may not make it, there was a code reported in the a couple of minutes ago.