Still No Arrest 5 Years After Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

April 17 marked the fifth anniversary of the fertilizer plant explosion that claimed 15 lives in the town of West, Texas. Despite a lengthy investigation by state and federal officials, no one has been arrested and charged with setting the fire that led to the blast, the Insurance Council of Texas reports.

Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) determined the fire was intentionally set in the seed storage room of the West Fertilizer Plant. The fire ultimately caused the explosion that rocked the facility and the Central Texas town on April 17, 2013.

Firefighters from the West Volunteer Fire Department and numerous surrounding fire departments rushed to the plant in an attempt to douse the blaze. The fire spread to another storage site containing 30 tons of ammonium nitrate. The plant exploded killing 10 fire fighters, two first responders and three civilians. More than 200 residents were injured.

Nearby homes, an apartment complex, a nursing home, two schools and vehicles were destroyed. Debris from the explosion that resulted in a mushroom cloud over the small farming community was found a half mile away. Insured losses totaled $100 million. The Associated Press previously reported that the facility carried only $1 million in liability coverage from United States Fire Insurance Co. of Morristown, N.J.

Fire investigators were at the explosion site for a month and continued working on the investigation conducting tests and following up leads for more than a year before announcing that the fire was incendiary, meaning it was intentionally set.

Following the explosion, Adair Grain Inc., which owned the facility, was was cited for “serious safety violations” by OSHA for exposing workers to explosion or fire hazards and for its unsafe handling and storage of ammonium nitrate and anhydrous ammonia.

The company also was hit with numerous lawsuits, some of which have been settled, including one brought by the town of West.

Reward Offered

A Texas Advisory Council on Arson (ATAC) announced that it would offer a $1,000 reward to anyone whose phone call leads to the arrest of the person or persons involved with starting the fire.

The Texas Arson Hotline is answered seven days a week, 24-hours a day and every caller remains anonymous. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-4 FIRE 45 (1-800-434-7345). Other awards have been offered by ATF and McClennan County.

“Someone knows who started this fire and we need to put this horrible event behind us,” said Tim Oates, ATAC chairman and Coppell Fire Marshal. “One phone call to the Texas Arson Hotline could do it.”

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) provides the administrative support in keeping ATAC operational on a daily basis. ICT staff members also publish and distribute the ATAC newsletter and work closely with the SFMO in responding to calls from the Texas Arson Hotline.

Source: ATAC, ICT, Associated Press

Related:

• Settlements Reached in West, Texas, Fertilizer Plant Explosion
• U.S. Cites 24 Violations in Fatal Blast at Texas Plant in April
• Criminal Investigation Launched into Texas Fertilizer Explosion

Topics Texas