Southwest Gas Plant Explosion - Dallas, Texas
The Southwest Industrial Gases, Inc. storage facility in Dallas, Texas was rocked by a series of explosions at the gas storage plant on July 25, 2007. A half-mile area around the gas facility was evacuated. Witnesses a mile away from the blast site described flaming shrapnel falling from the sky. Buildings in the area were damaged, and several cars were on fire. Initially, repeated explosions kept fire and rescue crews away from the facility. A cloud of black smoke billowed into the air as a result of the gas storage plant explosion, and could be seen 10 miles away. Witnesses also described an acrid odor in the area of the Southwest Industrial Gases plant that hung in the air throughout the morning.
Southwest Industrial Gases stores propane and acetylene gas. Dallas officials said that the explosions were sparked when a truck on the premises caught fire. The fire spread to surrounding gas canisters, and they exploded. The Environmental Protection Agency was sending a crew to Dallas to monitor air quality, and city officials said that a HAZMAT team would be deployed to the site once it was safe. The Dallas County Health and Human Services Center warned residents that there are risks associated with inhaling acetylene fumes. Symptoms of acetylene exposure include nausea, dizziness, dullness, headache, and vomiting. If you or a loved one have been affected by the Southwest Industrial Gases explosion in Dallas, you may be entitled to compensation. Please fill out the form at the left for a free gas plant explosion case review by a qualified attorney.