Fertilizer plant explosion and fire that killed 15 in Texas in 2013 was intentional, feds say
A 2013 explosion and fire at a Texas fertilizer plant that killed 15 people, injured some 300 more, leveled many of the surrounding buildings and sparked calls for regulatory reform was the result of an intentional act, federal officials say.
After an extensive investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced Wednesday that the fire at the West Fertilizer Co. in the small town of West, Texas was intentionally set. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person who set the blaze, CNN reports. Authorities did not identify a suspect, but said it was not an act of terrorism.
The Associated Press, the Dallas Morning News (sub. req.), the Houston Chronicle (sub. req.) and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) also have stories about the latest development concerning one of the country’s worst industrial accidents, which reportedly caused more than $200 million worth of damage.
Federal regulators previously pointed to issues including a lack of adequate safety precautions concerning the storage of a large quantity of ammonium nitrate at the plant, development in the immediate area of the plant and inadequate training of emergency response personnel.
Volunteer fireman Robert Payne, who was severely injured in the blast, was surprised and doubtful about the ATF findings, the WSJ reports.
“I don’t think they can prove that. It is hard to keep a secret in a small town. I have a hard time believing it,” he said of the announcement that the fire at the fertilizer plant was intentional. “Most people here believe this was an accident.”
Some plaintiffs involved in a wave of litigation over the blast have settled on undisclosed terms, while other cases are ongoing, the Chronicle reports.The newspaper says the ATF findings are likely to prompt new lawsuits.
Defendants include plant owner Adair Grain Co. and companies that manufactured and supplied material at the plant. Adair has countersued the other defendants, the Chronicle reports.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Fertilizer explosion caused some $100M in damage; plant had ‘pathetic’ $1M in insurance”
ABAJournal.com: “City sues both owner and supplier of fertilizer plant that exploded”
ABAJournal.com: “Fertilizer company fined $118K by OSHA over April explosion that killed 15”
