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July 26, 2007

Dallas Gas Explosion

Preventative measures here

summary

Story by: Barbara Gelinas & Diana Golobay

The Shorthorn staff

While the university stores many of the same gases present at the Southwest Industrial Gases fire Wednesday, it has procedures in place to prevent similar explosions.

Craig Powell, Environmental Health and Safety director, said many of the same gases are used at the university in smaller quantities and that hazardous gases are stored in two concrete-reinforced bunkers.

The university works with the Arlington Fire Department to conduct lab and shop inspections. Powell said inspectors make sure gases are stored properly and that safety caps are used on all gas valves.

Last semester, 20 percent of university students listed Dallas as their permanent address, according to university officials from Institutional Research Planning and Effectiveness. That percentage of students may have been affected by the explosion.

Police evacuated a half-mile radius from the blast site in Dallas in less than an hour, said Kenny Shaw, Dallas Emergency Management director. He said Interstates 30 and 35 were still shut down at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

“I’ve been in that situation myself, stuck in traffic,” he said. “I think they understand it’s for reasons of life safety.”

Powell said the university and the fire department run drills to practice emergency procedures in the event of a gas cylinder leak. They also practice using kits to seal leaking cylinders.

In case of a fire or explosion, the university has a plan, Powell said. When a fire alarm is activated, university police are automatically notified. Police investigate to determine whether the fire department should be contacted. If the sprinkler system is activated, firefighters are immediately called.

Powell said the Arlington Fire Department also plans procedures in the event of a university emergency.

Battalion Chief Mike Shoemaker said the Arlington Fire Department is prepared to shut down and evacuate immediate areas affected. Evacuees should flee from smoke, especially if potentially harmful gases are involved, he said. After people are evacuated, firefighters work to put out any fires and prevent further property loss.

There’s more risk involved with gas cylinders than just their contents. The pressure valves on gas tanks can pose a physical hazard if the valve breaks because the pressure can force the valves to fly through the air, Powell said. That’s a risk even if the gas is not flammable.

Powell said specific hazards vary depending on the gas inside. Some gases, like oxygen are not flammable but can fuel a fire if one occurs. Others, like acetylene, are flammable and pose different risks.

While filling an acetylene tank at Southwest Industrial Gas Inc., a quick-connect valve, called a pigtail, was damaged, resulting in an explosion at Interstates 30 and 35. The explosion caused a chain reaction leading to several other explosions.

Paul Lara, Dallas Fire-Rescue public information officer, said the gas was released with such force that it ignited itself, causing a tank to explode. Lara said the valves require periodic cleaning to prevent explosions. It’s not known if improper maintenance is responsible for the accident, he said.

Lara said police and fire rescue teams acted quickly to shut down the highways. He said the explosion was intense. One of the tanks blew across the highway and hit Reunion Arena. It punched a hole in the brick wall and broke a door.

“You could see shrapnel flying through the air,” Lara said.

Shoemaker said the university’s first defense against an emergency like the one in Dallas is proper storage and pressurized gas maintenance. He said potentially hazardous gases should be stored in approved containers.

“Good safety practices, good housekeeping, and you can avoid all the risks,” he said.