Anyone close to Big Spring??PHOTOS ADDED

[carrbowl]

I see there has been a major explosion at the Refinery there...it is right on the interstate...didn't know if anyone will be able to get there to get photos. There was a fire there in 1993 and the fire didn't look as bad as this explosion...

If anyone is able to get some photos, I would VERY much be interested...

Thanks

[Shane Jennings]

Try this.......

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,3348,00.html

[wondershots]

Almost looks atomic!

[carrbowl]

Well, I thought it was worse than the fire, but after looking at the photos, I'm not sure it was, except for the fact that the fire didn't injure anyone. If that refinery shuts down, that whole town will..

[carrbowl]

Finally heard from a friend who lives there..."The explosion occurrd in the light gas unit of the refinery. A
> propylene leak in the unit sparked the explosion. Eyewitnesses
> reported seeing a knee-high gas cloud from the leak, which resulted
> in an emergency evacuation order just minutes before the blast.
> Four injuries reported in the explosion.....no life threatening
> injuries were reported . One refinery worked was airlifted to a
> Lubbock hospital with burns, while the other three were transported to
> Scenic Mountain Medical. One of the injured was a motorist whose
> vehicle was hit by debris while traveling next to the refinery on
> Interstate 20."

Just in case anyone else cares!!

[snidow]

Thanks for posting the update Renae, boy that sure is scary looking.

[jennyh453]

If that refinery shuts down, that whole town will..

So true, but if it does, maybe I can finally get Mom to move closer to us!

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Well, I thought it was worse than the fire, but after looking at the photos, I'm not sure it was, except for the fact that the fire didn't injure anyone. If that refinery shuts down, that whole town will..

They will rebuild but right now this is going to cause another bump in gasoline prices.

Oil Trades Near $96 After Rising on OPEC Outlook, Refinery Fire

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by jennyh453

If that refinery shuts down, that whole town will..

So true, but if it does, maybe I can finally get Mom to move closer to us!

Exactly what I thougth yesterday~~~ It has been hanging by a thread since the base shut down in the 80's. That refinery money is what keep that town alive~!!

John, I wouldn't bet on it...of course it depends on how much damage was done, but that refinery is the smallest in the country...if I remember right, gas is not what keeps it going, but asphalt. My husband worked there for 13 years and was in charge of several different parts...I think he knows that refinery better than me!!! Of course he spent more time with it too~~~It was owned by TOTAL (Fina) before these Israeles (how do you spell people from Israel???) bought it in 2000.

[carrbowl]

ok, I'd like to give you a play by play for each photo, but I don't know how...so you'll have to guess which comments go with which photos!!! So the comments are either correct or backwards!!! Sorry..


#1 the building that the engineers office in
#2 a building that houses other workers
#3 the interstate littered with debrie..
#4 inside of #2 where people were working!!!
#5 more of the inside of the building
#6 a car that was hit with flying debrie (don't know if it was the person that went to the hospital)
#7 and #8 the fire and the fallout


And John I have to eat my words!!! my husband says they will collect their insurance and rebuild...

This was definitely worse than I thought...I can't believe only 5 people got hurt...

[kenw]

awesome images.

my best to all.

trust me, they'll rebuild. Getting EPA etc permits to build a new one anywhere is almost impossible and would take many years. Rebuilding and repairs don't require as much paperwork.....and NIMBYs....

[JPalmer]

Every time I had driven by that place it gave me the creeps. I'm one of those worst-case scenario kinda guys though.