Thursday, August 20, 2015

Evacuation orders were lifted after several hours following a chemical explosion of a huge tank at the Liquid Transfer Terminals holding facility in Bainbridge, Georgia






Officials confirmed that at least one person was dead after a chemical explosion. (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 

 
 The tank contained Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 
All Decatur County schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution. (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 

 
Crews said they were working to keep the surrounding tanks cool as the fire continued to burn.

 

 
Officials confirmed that at least one person was dead after a chemical explosion. (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 
 
The tank contained Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 
All Decatur County schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution. (Source: Bainbridge Public Safety) 

 
Crews said they were working to keep the surrounding tanks cool as the fire continued to burn. 
BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) -

Evacuation orders were lifted after several hours following a chemical explosion at the  holding facility.

For a brief period of time, families were allowed to gather some belongings from their home before leaving the area again, as it was still not considered safe to remain.

It happened at Liquid Transfer Terminals, a facility near the Flint River around 11:15 a.m.

Bainbridge Public Safety confirmed one person died after a one million gallon tank of sodium hydrosulfide ignited.

Officials confirmed that the person who died, who was not immediately named, worked at the facility.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire after a few hours, although the chemical fire continued to burn past 5 p.m. Wednesday.

As a precaution, evacuation orders were issued for everyone within a half mile radius of the facility.

"The chemical that's in the smoke is something to climb if it starts to rain. That'll bring the chemicals back down and it's very irritable for breathing and [can] get on your skin and cause burns," said Sergeant W. Tracy Tabb with Georgia State Patrol.

Crews said they were working to keep the surrounding tanks cool as the fire continued to burn.

Decatur County schools were also placed on lockdown as a precaution.

Bainbridge Community Affairs Spokesperson Julie Harris said that officials were concerned that if firefighters are not able to put the fire out completely in time, the air quality could become harmful.

Smoke from the fire was seen from 15 miles away. - See more at: http://www.georgianewsday.com