Responders and civilians killed in severe plant explosion

Though the fatal explosion at the fertilizer plant in Texas last week isn't directly related to California, everyone around the country must look at the recent incident for safety purposes. Something went extremely wrong for the blast to have taken place.

An investigation continues into the severe explosion, though reports thus far suggest that major lapses in following safety procedure might have led to the boom that has killed at least 14 people so far. Among the victims are firefighters, other emergency responders and unsuspecting civilians.

While authorities try to come to a firm conclusion about what happened, an investigation into the explosion and the plant where it occurred presents a scary and frustrating picture. Within the fertilizer plant there was a significantly excessive amount of a chemical called ammonium nitrate stored. That chemical is so hazardous and poses such a threat to the world that the Department of Homeland Security is in charge of regulating the storage of it.

Owners of the industrial plant have kept pretty quiet in the aftermath of the blast, but officials are likely wondering how and why more than 1,000 times the allowed amount of ammonium nitrate was stored at the plant. DHS regulates the chemical throughout the country because it is used in bombs and can lead to great devastation.

Responders who rushed to the explosion site and the small community shocked by the impact are living with that devastation that failed to be prevented. People are dead, many others are injured, and homes are destroyed. The need for answers is likely only outweighed by the level of sadness in the Texas town.

Source: Reuters, "Texas fertilizer company didn't heed disclosure rules before blast," Joshua Schneyer, Ryan McNeill and Janet Roberts, April 20, 2013

• Our California personal injury firm helps victims of explosion accidents and families who have lost a loved one to a preventable explosion.