It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Chemours plant along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper told a local radio program Wednesday morning that there was a "massive explosion" at the site that sent metal debris onto an interstate and across the river. An investigation into . The shelter in place was lifted about 2:30 Wednesday morning. She has so little trust in official pronouncements that she doesn't believe assurances Wednesday from West Virginia American Water, the regional supplier involved in the incident, that Nitro's water is safe again. Rt. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet Maya Nye, who grew up in St. Albans, across the Kanawha River from Nitro, is working to improve federal oversight of the coal and chemical industries in her region. All Rights Reserved. Last week's spill is believed to be West Virginia's first chemical accident involving contamination of a large municipal system, and Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has warned out-of-town media against misattributing blame. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. Shelter in place up within two miles of Belle. The explosion lit up the night sky in eastern Kanawha County. The. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. The explosion at a chemical facility in Belle erupted just after 10 p.m. Tuesday and prompted a warning to shelter-in-place for two miles around it. The incident was reported around 10 p.m. Aaron Spencer captured the following drone footage of fire after the explosion: Dispatchers said there was some type of explosion, but the cause is unknown at this time. Gov. Even before last week's chemical spill fouled tap water in nine counties in West Virginia, where more than 200,000 people still cannot use their water after seven long days, it was not unusual to find black water running from kitchen faucets in homes outside Charleston. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act creates a new criminal charge. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, nearly four and a half hours after an explosion at the Optima Chemicals Company along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle. The explosion took place at the Optima Belle Chemical plant at around 10 p.m. Tuesday, when a 1,200-gallon metal dryer became over-pressurized during a chemical product drying operation, a news release from Optima Belle said. It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Optima Chemicals Company along W. Dupont. Not in this state.". By the time of the Monsanto settlement, Chemical Valley had already achieved a degree of global infamy, if only by association. People who lived in the area reported their houses shook. Shelter In Place Lifted Following Chemical Plant Explosion In West Virginia ET, WCHS reported. LATEST: One person dies following chemical plant explosion - WVNS The order was lifted around 2:30 a.m. Two of the injured were from inside the plant. A determination about lifting the shelter-in-place will not be made until that assessment is made. Belle Mayor David Fletcher, who doubles as a volunteer firefighter, says the fire was put out and an order for residents in the area to remain indoors was lifted early Wednesday. Jim Justice said in a tweet that he was aware of the situation. Carper told WCHS that one individual was taken to CAMC General Hospital by ambulance and another individual drove themselves to Montgomery General Hospital. The explosion was reported around 10 p.m. Tuesday. The plant is along the Kanawha River in eastern Kanawha County. Explosion and Fire Hits Chemical Plant in West Virginia - Inspectioneering A chemical incident and explosion at a plant in Belle, West Virginia, resulted in a shelter-in-place order for residents within a two-mile radius on Tuesday. Please be careful everyone! Chemours released the following statement: An incident at one of the tenant companies at the Chemours site in Belle, West Virginia has resulted in a fire. Manchin visits Milton, discusses new federal funding for floodwall project. 2. A homeowner in Belle shared this video captured during the explosion: According to Metro 911, the shelter-in-place includes everyone between the Chelyan Bridge to Burning Springs. ET, WCHS reported. Browse By. Firetrucks responding to plant. It includes all of Belle, Marmet, Chesapeake and Chelyan. Optima is cooperating fully with local, state, and federal officials on continuing investigation of this incident, the release said. Senator says it's time to get construction started. Site responders are working to contain the fire. After the 2008 explosion at Bayer CropScience, the federal Chemical Safety Board recommended new state and federal safety regulations. Former DuPont site to be utilized for solar energy House approves bill named after fallen Charleston police officer. A mans world? Explosion at West Virginia plant injures 4 people, prompts shelter-in Still, it was a very hard day, Kanawha County Manager Jennifer Herrald told The Associated Press. The number to reach it for non-emergency calls related to the incident is 304-746-8828. WSAZ has been told the explosion happened at a tenant company that operates at Chemours called Optima. The site of the former DuPont Potomac River Works explosives manufacturing facility in Berkeley County will be the future home of a $100 million solar electricity production facility. Dupont Plant in Belle West Virginia Just Had an Explosion!! Indeed, people who live in the Kanawha River Valley, which much of the world learned recently is also known as Chemical Valley, have endured a long history of pollution of many kinds. In 1984, thousands of villagers in India died after methyl isocyanate, or MICa chemical used to make pesticides, plastics, and other productsescaped from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. "We drink the water, too.". This latest update comes hours after Gov. CW Sigman, the Kanawha County Emergency Management Director, tells WSAZ chlorine and methanol were included in the explosion. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Authorities say an explosion and fire at a West Virginia chemical plant that shook surrounding homes killed one person while injuring three others. John was beloved by many in his community and his church. It is unclear if the furnace was used to heat the building or products . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The DuPont Spruance manufacturing site sits along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Carper said he hopes the shelter-in-place is lifted soon, but for now it is best to stay put and stay inside their homes for the safety of their families. Cathy and I are praying for the safety of all involved.. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. Officials let the fire continue to burn off until just after midnight when it was extinguished, Justice said. These skeletons may have the answer, Scientists are making advancements in birth controlfor men, Blood cleaning? MARTINSBURG, W.Va. The site of the former DuPont Potomac River Works explosives manufacturing facility in Berkeley County will be the future home of a $100 million solar electricity production facility. (WSAZ) - West Virginia American Water says customers are not impacted by the chemical plant explosion. Copyright 2020 WSAZ. The Project will be a beacon for leading companies that are seeking to purchase clean energy and open operations in Berkeley County and West Virginia.. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) A 2-mile radius shelter-in-place is in effect late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning after an explosion at the Chemours plant along West Dupont Avenue in Belle, Metro 911 dispatchers say. Copyright 2020 WSAZ. WSAZ has been told the explosion happened at a tenant company that operates at Chemours called Optima. !Fire, explosion at West Virginia chemical plant prompt warning for neighborsTwo people suffered injuries, a county official said, and the fire at the Chemours plant site was said to be under control. Explosion at the Chemours Plant. Fatal Exposure: Tragedy at DuPont - Safety Videos - Multimedia | CSB An explosion Tuesday evening at the Optima Chemicals plant in Belle, West Virginia resulted in the death of one worker and injured three others. 60 has reopened between Campbells Creek and the Chelyan Bridge. As fire lit up the night sky, the Kanawha County Sheriffs Department and State Police were controlling traffic at the roads around the plant. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information. Please be careful everyone! The Belle Chemical Company that oversees the chemical operations at the site said in a 1:30 a.m. news release the explosion occurred at the site but was not related to chemical company operations. Chemours released the following statement: An incident at one of the tenant companies at the Chemours site in Belle, West Virginia has resulted in a fire. We are actively monitoring the situation, the release said. The 723-acre site is located along the Kanawha River about 10 miles southeast of Charleston. The town of Belle has about 1,100 residents. UPDATE 12/9/20 @ 11:01 a.m. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - West Virginia American Water says customers are not impacted by the chemical plant explosion. Shelter in place ordered for 2 mile radius of the plant, Metro 911 (@KanawhaCoAlerts) December 9, 2020. "To those of us in the chemical industry, safety is number one," he said. GRAFTON, W.Va ( WDTV /Gray News) - Two West Virginia women have been charged after police reported deplorable, unsanitary and unsafe living conditions at an animal rescue. The name of the . Nitro has been back in the news more recently. West Virginia chemical plant explosion spurs stay-inside order KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - U.S. He said they do not believe any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. A plan to make mustard gas in the town for battlefields in Europe never materialized. Explosion at Belle chemical plant with shelter-in-place order within All rights reserved, fouled tap water in nine counties in West Virginia, Union Carbide's plant in Institute, West Virginia. "I don't drink our water," she said. Belle Mayor David Fletcher, who also is a volunteer firefighter, said the blaze was extinguished before midnight. It is unclear whether the explosion involved any chemicals at the plant, formerly known as the DuPont . The water company says customers will not see any changes to their water services. First published on December 9, 2020 / 6:39 AM. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. According to a spokesperson from the family, John Gillenwater was killed. But the measures found little support in the capitol in Charleston. The number to reach it for non-emergency calls related to the incident is 304-746-8828. "Welcome to our world," says Vivian Stockman, 52, a longtime resident of rural Roane County, north of Charleston, the state capital, and an activist with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. It was at Optima Belle Chemical, a tenant of the Chemours Company Plant site. He told TV stations, right now we feel like everything is in pretty good shape.". The toxic wastewater produced in the cleansing process, known as coal slurry, is either injected into the grounda moratorium bans that for now, says Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition's Stockmanor is stored in impoundment ponds, or sludge "lakes" behind earthen dams. His family is "devastated over the loss of their husband, father and friend," according to NBC affiliate WSAZ of Huntington. A Century of Controversy, Accidents in West Virginia's Chemical Valley The town of Nitro, 14 miles downriver from Charleston, is named for gunpowder manufactured there in 1917 and 1918. The Berkeley County Council announced Thursday that Torch Clean Energy, based in Colorado, is leading one of West Virginias first utility-scale solar projects. DUPONT PLANT IN BELLE WEST VIRGINIA JUST HAD AN EXPLOSION! Fatal explosion at West Virginia chemical plant kills 1, injures 3 According to the company, no changes have occurred in the finished water quality leaving the companys water treatment plants and no drinking water advisories have been issued. Shelter-in-place lifted for 2-mile radius after explosion rocks Kanawha Its still unclear what they produce at the plant. The complex is a former DuPont chemical plant. The chemical giant also paid $9 million to clean dioxin-contaminated dust from 4,500 homes, according to the 385-page court order. Officials do not believe any chemicals from the plant fire got into the Kanawha River, Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper told CNN affiliate WSAZ. The 723-acre former DuPont site is situated along the Kanawha River and has manufactured various specialty and agricultural products since 1926. The Senate bill shrinks the copay cap from $100 to $35. As coal is prepared for shipment, it is washed with chemicals, including a cleanser known as crude MCHM, which is at the heart of last week's accident. People who lived in the area reported their houses shook. There will be no special education services. Governor Justice stated a little after 11 p.m. that he has been monitoring the situation. What happened was a tragedy. Several roads nearby were closed to traffic, according to WOWK. The chemical giant also paid $9 million to clean dioxin-contaminated dust from 4,500 homes, according to the 385-page court order. Projectiles from the explosion nearly penetrated an aboveground MIC storage tank, drawing attention from federal investigators concerned that the plant was vulnerable to a Bhopal-like disaster. BELLE, WV (WOWK) 12/8/2020 10:45 a.m. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Updated Chlorine itself is not flammable, but it can react explosively or form explosive compounds with other chemicals such as turpentine and ammonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. James Mason, whos with KCEAA, said they have their mass causality teams and mass triage teams ready as a precautionary measure. U.S. 60 was shut down from Campbells Creek to the. Among the injured was another plant worker and someone who was hit by debris. We have no further details at this time., U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., tweeted, Gayle and I are praying for those at the Chemours plant in Belle & for our brave first responders who are running to the fire tonight. Thousands without power in West Virginia after strong winds move across the state. Belle, West Virginia Explosion Scanner Audio - YouTube Four people were injured. Carper said at first they believed there was a barge accident, but they soon realized it was an incident at the plant. The blast prompted a huge fire at the Chemours plant in West Dupont Avenue in Belle, Kanawah . There are reports of injuries but no specific details. I urge all those in and near Belle to stay tuned to local media & follow instructions from local officials.. Weve contacted the state and the Governors Office for assistance, Carper said. "As far as I know, there was no coal company within miles.". Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. 1 dead, 3 others hurt in West Virginia chemical facility explosion The life expectancy of the solar panels is more than 35 years. For all the industrial incidents and accidents, residents say not much in their state seems to change. Two years after the Bhopal disaster, Union Carbide sold its factory. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Rt. We are actively monitoring the situation, the release said. "We are seeing a renaissance now because of Marcellus Shale," said Kevin DiGregorio, executive director of the Chemical Alliance Zone, a nonprofit economic development group dedicated to building the chemical industry in West Virginia. We have no further details at this time., U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., tweeted, Gayle and I are praying for those at the Chemours plant in Belle & for our brave first responders who are running to the fire tonight.