Holy Shit - Huge Explosion not far from me

[RetroLounge]

I felt this this morning, didn't know what it was. Stuff in my apartment rattled. Figured it was a truck going by or something.

This is about 5 minutes away from my apartment.

http://www.jsonline.com/

Fire officials report a minimum of 30 injured in an explosion at the Falk plant that has caused a complete collapse of a building and four-alarm fire, according to fire Lt. Lawrence Jenkins.

"There are a significant amount of injuries," Jenkins said.

The blast occurred shortly after 8 a.m. today at the plant in the Menomonee Valley.

Heavy black smoke and flames could be seen engulfing a smokestack with the word "Falk" on it.

Traffic was backed up eastbound on I-94 past the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.

The blast could be felt as far south as Bay View and as far east as Juneau Village.

RL

[miss_american_pie]

1. You'll do anything to avoid work going to work, won't you?

Seriously, how scary. I hope everyone injured recovers.

[RetroLounge]

3. LOL! Work, what is that?

But yeah, huge plumes of smoke just east of me...

Entire building destroyed.

RL

[lizziegrace]

2. What's manufactured or processed at that plant?

Looks nasty...

[RetroLounge]

5. Not sure...

But I can hear lots of choppers hovering now...

RL

[BarenakedLady]

4. Eeek.

:scared:

[Blue Diadem]

6. Absolutely awful..and frightening.

I hope all those injured recover. I'm amazed that they haven't reported deaths.

I'm hearing on msnbc right now that it was a huge leaking propane tank that exploded.

[zingaro]

7. Wow...stay safe. Fingers crossed for everyone's safety.

Something like that at 9:00am-ish on a Wednesday morning gives me chills for the employees and nearby residents.

Incidentally, I lived in Milwaukee for several years.

[lizziegrace]

8. Story leads on CNN and MSNBC online

I hope the injured will be okay.

:(

[Ian David]

9. Link to article: Explosion Injures 30 Near Downtown Milwaukee

Dec 6, 2006 9:02 am US/Central
Explosion Injures 30 Near Downtown Milwaukee


An explosion rocked the industrial Menomonee Valley near downtown Milwaukee Wednesday morning, injuring about 30 people, a fire official said.

The explosion ignited a fire at a Falk Corp. warehouse near the Potawatomi casino and about a half mile from the Miller Brewing Co., fire Lt. Brian O'Connor said. Falk makes large industrial gears.

<snip>

The explosion destroyed Falk's wood frame warehouse and numerous cars and damaged several other buildings in the complex, O'Connor said. The fire spread through rubble covering several blocks.

O'Connor said the injured people were being taken to numerous hospitals.

More:
http://wfrv.com/topstories/local_story_340100316.html

Live coverage on MS-NBC.

[Ian David]

10. Fireman on MS-NBC says all injuries appear to be minor.

If that's right, then they've been very, very lucky.

[NewWaveChick1981]

11. OMG, RL, that's terrible...

:hug: I hope the injuries there are minor, and I hope you and your family are OK. :pals:

[reyd reid reed]

12. Wow...

everything okay with you? Your kids okay? All the books safe?

If the injuries were minor, I'd say that there are some lucky people out there. I'm relieved.

:hug:

[MissMillie]

13. happened in MA not too long ago too

The massive chemical explosion at a Danvers printing plant early this morning became the equivalent of a 10-alarm fire, with rescuers from more than 30 cities and towns rushing in the predawn darkness to a blast that reverberated as far away as New Hampshire.

The force of the explosion damaged some 90 buildings in a half-mile radius, knocking homes off foundations, splintering glass and cracking chimneys. Twenty-five may be a total loss. Town building inspectors went door-to-door through the Danversport neighborhood, tagging unsafe houses with orange markers that read: "No entry."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/22/explosion_rocks_danvers_several_hurt_none_seriously/


I hope no one in your area has been hurt.

[cwydro]

14. What kind of plant is it?

keep us posted.

[lizziegrace]

15. They make large gears

reports say the explosion (near the plant) sparked a fire at the facility.

[eyesroll]

16. Yeah, we heard/felt that and thought it was a bunch of snow coming off the roof.

We're 7 around miles from there.

So far, no fatalities...if that holds, that'll be amazing.

[RetroLounge]

17. 2 Fatalities reported so far...

Damn...

RL

[reyd reid reed]

18. Shit

I was so hoping that the early reports of mostly minor injuries were accurate...although with destruction on that scale it was a slim hope.

:(

[RetroLounge]

19. Some pictures here

http://www2.jsonline.com/site/photographerphotos/gallery.aspx?catid=343

RL

[RetroLounge]

20. Shit, one more fatality. Those poor families...

At least three people were killed, 37 were rushed to area hospitals, and an unknown number of workers are still missing after a suspected propane explosion ripped through the Falk Corp. in the Menomonee Valley just after 8 a.m.

RL

[lizziegrace]

21. Looking at the photos of the building

I'm surprised anyone got out alive. :(

[RetroLounge]

22. Yeah, it is amazing...

RL

[medeak]

23. check for structoral damage

had the same thing happen and homes had cracks and foundation problems miles away