1,600 Flee After Chemical Blasts Injure 14 in Indiana, N. Carolina

Explosions at chemical plants in Indiana and North Carolina shot balls of flames into the early morning sky Thursday, injuring 14 people and forcing 1,600 to flee their homes as thick fumes drifted over populated areas.

Three tractor-trailer rigs filled with industrial chemicals exploded early Thursday at the Southchem plant in Durham, N.C., releasing a cloud that drifted over the downtown area.

Seven firefighters and a police officer were treated for breathing difficulties and released.

About 600 residents forced to leave in the middle of the night later were allowed to return home.

“It was very frightening because a chemical fire, that could be anything,” said one of the evacuees, Rudolph Moore. “It could blow up; it could turn into anything. So we left.”

A fire reported Wednesday night at the Superior Chemical Co. in Elkhart, Ind., was extinguished Thursday after 55-gallon chemical drums exploded in a spectacular display that forced the evacuation of about 1,000 people.

“When I got there, just a little bit of smoke was coming out of the eaves. In 10 to 15 minutes the whole building was involved,” patrolman Milt Montandon said. “We didn’t know what we had at first. We had to wait for someone from the company to get here.”

Firefighters allowed the blaze to burn through the night on the advice of hazardous-chemical specialists, who said dousing the flames with water might contaminate ground water. The fire was later extinguished with chemical foam.

Six firefighters suffered chest pains and shortness of breath battling the blaze, Baugo Township Fire Chief James Ferro said.