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Tanker Explosion Rocks Flomaton; No Injuries
February 10, 2010
A tanker truck explosion rocked Flomaton Wednesday morning but caused little damage and no injuries.
The explosion happened about 9 a.m. as the truck was parked at Kelley Brothers Contractors on Highway 113, just behind the Tom Thumb.
The tanker truck was loaded with saltwater, according to the Flomaton Fire Department. A 100 pound end cap was blown off the tanker about 250 feet — past the Tom Thumb and across Highway 31 to Rollin’s Tires. Windows at the contracting company were also shattered by shock wave from the blast. No one, including a man reportedly on top of the tanker welding at the time of the explosion, was injured.
Residents from all over the Flomaton area reported hearing the explosion or feeling the earth shake.
The exact cause of the saltwater explosion is under investigation. Officials tell us that the saltwater may have mixed with residue of some other chemicals previously transported in the tank, causing a chemical reaction.
The saltwater is used in the oil drilling process at wells around the area.
Pictured top: This tanker full of saltwater exploded Wednesday morning in Flomaton. Pictured inset: The end cap of the tanker was blown off. Pictured below: The top lid of the tanker was damaged. Pictured below: Windows were blown out a contracting company. Submitted photos by Alisa Hart for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
15 Responses to “Tanker Explosion Rocks Flomaton; No Injuries”
The saltwater didn’t explode or burn in this incident; saltwater is just that-salty water.
If there was saltwater in the tank, it just caused there to be less vapor space in the tank. That just compressed the vapors into a smaller area causing them to be more likely to ignite. The vapors in the tank or scale on the tank ignited causing this to happen. Probably from the previous products in the tank; maybe even residual crude oil or other flammable material floating on top of the water.
As I said earlier; probably created by OSHA violations-confined space, atmospheric monitoring, failing to follow welding/cutting protocols,etc. It is doubtful that OSHA would get involved unless someone called them, i.e., disgruntled or concerned employee.
This is an OSHA issue, it only becomes DOT related if it were to happen on the road. The truck was at it’s home terminal, so the DOT can’t write any violations so why would they even be conserned with it? It may also fall under the Oil and Gas regulations. As for the salt water, if they figured out a way to make it explosive, then we no longer have a need for oil wells anyway. Something very fishy about this little situation. Kelly Brothers left out some vital information!!
OSHA only responds if there are 3 severe injuries or a fatality from a single incident. There were probably some OSHA violations that contributed to this mishap. DOT won’t get involved, either; not on the highway.
From what I hear from sources, someone was trying to weld on this trailer. These trailers haul all kinds of stuff. Probably was the result of someone welding on a trailer that hadn’t been properly prepared for that kind of work. These small companies usually don’t have a very good safety program.
Having a good safety program is like eating properly; costs a lot of money to do it right.
Lucky for all.
In reference to the reporting this to OSHA–This was a DOT issue and is normally handled by DOT because of it being a tractor trailer.
Salt water explodes???
I am sooo moving away from the beach!
HEY IS THAT RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE HOUSEBOAT BBQ I UNDERSTAND THAT IS A GREAT PLACE TO EAT I GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT BUT DID THAT MAKE THE RED LIGHTS GO OUT
If you plan to do welding repair make sure you check it for gas. Such as H2S as it is produced in about 90% of the wells in the area. What if the hatch that was blown off hit a car, possibly into a small child. Was this reported to OSHA ? What about it FFD chief ? Any followup on the incident? I’ll be checking in on it.
Hey…I just used salt water to start my BBQ ! I never knew that stuff was flammable…….cool.
We heard this at our house in Century!
Its hard to think that the heat caused this problem. Its only in the 30’s. This would happen more often in the summer months, something else is going here.
Salt water is extracted from the oil well along with oil, it is then seperated and disposed of in abandoned wells. The salt water has oil residue in it, so rising pressure could cause an explosion, since petroleum products expand when they increase in heat.
I’m sure that the man on top of the tanker had to go change his shorts after that happen. At least the lower hatch blew off and not the top one. Could you imagine driving down Hwy 31 and that hatch hitting you in the door. That could have been ugly.
They just don’t make’em like they they used too. lol
A saltwater explosion?? was someone stealing our beach water for their pool?
OMG! Luckily no one was hurt, thank god…