Incident Report

Subject:       Lightning strikes Dow Chemical in Croydon; Ensuing Fire Claims a Life            

Date of Email report:   Thu 17/05/2012

Report Detail:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Bristol residents were awoken overnight with the sounds of an explosion.

Lightning struck two storage tanks around 3:35 this morning at the Dow Chemical plant on State Road in Croydon. The blast blew the lid off one of the tanks, setting them ablaze until fire-fighters from both sides of the Burlington-Bristol Bridge brought the ensuing fire under control around 5:15 a.m.  Dozens of emergency service vehicles and hazmat crews arrived on the scene to douse the 3-alarm blaze, which reportedly has claimed the life of a fire-fighter. The victim — Dave Wintz, a fire police officer for the Bristol Fire Department — reportedly suffered a heart attack.  The big bang that reportedly shook houses in every direction was followed by the sounds of sirens that filled the stormy overnight skies. The big bang that reportedly shook houses in every direction was followed by the sounds of sirens that filled the stormy overnight skies.  While the blaze has been extinguished, fire-fighters remain on the scene, pouring foam onto the tanks, which are still smoldering.

Bristol residents are being advised to stay indoors and keep their windows shut, though Dow insists the lingering smell from the fire poses no threat to the public health. Still, as a precautionary measure, the Bristol Borough School District has closed all schools in the district in reaction to the situation. The chemicals contained in the tanks were ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, materials used in the manufacture of acrylic paint. According to Dow, the chemicals hold a "low-odor threshold." As a precaution, the company says, employees in the coatings plant formerly operated by Rohm & Haas were evacuated.

According a Dow news release, “material that escaped the tanks is contained in surround dikes with no anticipated impact to the community.  "We do not anticipate any health impacts to the community," Dow's news release states, adding that odors may persist for a few hours until the material is removed from the dike.

A message from Bristol Township Emergency Management said "There is an incident at Dow Chemical in Croydon that is causing an unpleasant odor in surrounding areas. If you smell the odor, we recommend you close all doors and windows and limit your exposure to the odor." While the blaze has been extinguished, fire-fighters remain on the scene, pouring foam onto the tanks, which are still smoldering. Bristol residents are being advised to stay indoors and keep their windows shut, though Dow insists the lingering smell from the fire poses no threat to the public health.

Still, as a precautionary measure, the Bristol Borough School District has closed all schools in the district in reaction to the situation. The chemicals contained in the tanks were ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate, materials used in the manufacture of acrylic paint. According to Dow, the chemicals hold a "low-odor threshold." As a precaution, the company says, employees in the coatings plant formerly operated by Rohm & Haas were evacuated.

According a Dow news release, “material that escaped the tanks is contained in surround dikes with no anticipated impact to the community. "We do not anticipate any health impacts to the community," Dow's news release states, adding that odors may persist for a few hours until the material is removed from the dike. A message from Bristol Township Emergency Management said "There is an incident at Dow Chemical in Croydon that is causing an unpleasant odor in surrounding areas. If you smell the odor, we recommend you close all doors and windows and limit your exposure to the odor."

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