Anderson Magnesium Fire Forces Evacuation

[AwakeAtLast]

Anderson Magnesium Fire Forces Evacuation

A state of emergency was declared in Anderson late tonight as several thousand people were evacuated from a mile-long area because of a magnesium fire at a recycling plant that burned out of control.

Several hundred firefighters rushed to the scene after the fire at the Advanced Magnesium Alloys Corp. plant, or AMACOR, erupted about 5:30 p.m. Explosions inside forced firefighters to evacuate the burning structure less than three hours later, but they continued battling the blaze from outside, said Anderson police spokesman Detective Terry Sollars.

"The whole building is engulfed now," Sollars said from a command post a few blocks from the fire. "It's a bright glow, it's burning pretty hard."

There were no reports of serious injuries.

Magnesium is a silvery-white, highly flammable metal that, when ignited, releases irritating or toxic fumes. Magnesium fires are typically extinguished using dry sand; throwing water on such a fire can cause it to flare up or explode.

more....

http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/209401-5958-092.html

[shraby]

1. There was an explosion in a

recycling plant a couple of weeks ago, too. What's with the recycling plants?

[burrowowl]

2. Some stuff that is recycled is

dangerous stuff. In WWII they used magnesium along with aluminium in airframes, really burned well when lit.

[NuttyFluffers]

5. heh, reminds me of the aluminum ships used in falklands war.

:) magnesium, aluminum... chemical reactions... generally unstoppable to put out, just like phosphorus... see basic chemistry is good for you!

:7

[burrowowl]

6. In WWII

magnesism and aluminium alloy was used for airframes. Burned like hell when lit by incoming ordenance. Made for a lightweight airframe though. Good thing wasn't used for civilian aircraft or fighter aircraft now for that matter.
How about sodium cooled reactors?

[NuttyFluffers]

7. ooh, haven't heard about those reactors!

tell me about those :7

these stories are great, it's like hearing someone making a bridge out of balsa wood :7

[DBoon]

9. Oh, where liquid sodium goes through the reactor core

and then is used to heat water for the generator. The two are kept in separate sealed systems of course.

And you know what will happen if the liquid sodium and water ever meet. Especially given that the sodium has been highly irradiated.

[burrowowl]

3. Kick was first eom

[melnjones]

4. I live here in Anderson...

It looked awful, but now that some time has passed it seems to be not as bad as we all initially thought. I spent a few hours at a shelter as a volunteer. Not too many people used the shelters. Looks like things are going to be ok but it was kinda scary. We're still in flood stage from all the rain and are still recovering from one heck of an ice storm last week that caused quite a bit of property damage and severe power outages. I'd be ok if we're done with the drama now :-)

[Historic NY]

8. Probably trying to get enough Class D or other foams/agents to put it

out very stubborn. I remember an experience with a VW that had a magnesium block, boy did that burn fast & white hot....heck it was a car fire what did I know. Learned fast.