Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. BELLE, W.Va. The shelter-in-place Kanawha County officials ordered after a Tuesday night explosion and chemical incident in Belle was lifted around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. 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! U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and the Kanawha County Commission expressed their condolences. Four people had confirmed injuries from the incident, Carper said about midnight. Carper also says it does not appear any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. 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. John was the sole bread winner for his family.. Four . It happened. People who lived in the area reported their houses shook. As of just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the commission reported the fire was still burning at the plant. According to emergency officials, the explosion occurred at 8:40 a.m. in a furnace. The town of Belle has about 1,100 residents. Thousands without power in West Virginia after strong winds move across the state. The two other chemical operators were evaluated at a local hospital and have been released, Optima Belle said. The safety board returned to West Virginia in 2010, after an accidental release of toxic gas at the DuPont plant in Belle killed one worker there, and again urged new safety oversight. The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid, Who first rode horses? 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The town of Belle has about 1,100 residents. The fire was under control by early Wednesday, Chemours said, and later that morning a shelter-in-place that had been issued for people living within a two-mile radius of the plant was lifted by emergency authorities. Manchin visits Milton, discusses new federal funding for floodwall project. Chemours was founded in July 2015 as a spin-off from DuPont. 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. "We've had at least one very serious explosion and a working fire at the plant," Carper told the news station. The Associated Press contributed to this report. First published on December 9, 2020 / 6:39 AM. Kanawha Countys Emergency Operations Center was activated, and Kanawha County emergency and homeland security responders were at the scene. "I don't drink our water," she said. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet The plant saw nonfatal incidents, including a leak, an explosion, and a fire, during the late 1980s and 1990s. West Virginia American Waters Kanawha Valley water treatment plant is located along the Elk River, which is a separate source water supply from the chemical plant. All we can tell you is if you live in that area shelter in place, Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper told MetroNews a few minutes after the explosion was first reported. The shelter in place was lifted about 2:30 Wednesday morning. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released its final report on a series of three accidents that occurred over a 33-hour period on January 22 and 23, 2010, at the DuPont Corporation's Belle, West Virginia, chemical manufacturing plant -. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? 10 December 2020. Stay up to date with what you want to know. When does spring start? Pasco sheriff: 3 people, including a 6-year-old girl, shot in the head during home invasion, Missing child alert canceled for Miami 15-year-old, 10 Weather: Warm weekend, isolated rain chances, Windy conditions ahead of chance of rain this weekend, Police: 4 killed after explosion at UK waste water plant, US charities raise millions in wake of Beirut port blast. "Gayle and I send our thoughts and prayers to John Gillenwaters family, friends, and loved ones, especially his wife Tina and their children," Manchin said in a statement. John Gillenwater was killed in the explosion. It directed questions to another company that did not immediately return a voice message.Aerial video posted to social media captured images of the fire burning.The shelter-in-place remained in effect early Wednesday. 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. "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," Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, tweeted. That river wends through the mountains and empties into the Ohio River on the Ohio-West Virginia border at Point Pleasant. The Chemours representative says the incident did not originate in the Chemours plant located on the site and that all Chemours employees were safe and accounted for Tuesday evening. But Agent Orange, which was used extensivelyand controversiallyin Southeast Asia to defoliate jungles during the Vietnam War, was produced at Nitro's Monsanto Co. plant from the 1940s until 1971. Carper also says it does not appear any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. He told TV stations, right now we feel like everything is in pretty good shape.". Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? 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. James Mason, whos with KCEAA, said they have their mass causality teams and mass triage teams ready as a precautionary measure. The town of Nitro, 14 miles downriver from Charleston, is named for gunpowder manufactured there in 1917 and 1918. All Rights Reserved. 9 Dec 2020. All Belle Chemical Company units have been shut down. The Senate bill shrinks the copay cap from $100 to $35. The explosion sent large chunks of metal through the air. The explosion was massive. CW Sigman, the Kanawha County Emergency Management Director, tells WSAZ chlorine and methanol were included in the explosion. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 2023 Cable News Network. BELLE, WV (WOWK) 12/8/2020 10:45 a.m. 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. Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act creates a new criminal charge. A West Virginia chemical facility erupted into flames after an explosion Tuesday night, killing one person and leading to a 2-mile shelter in place order for area residents before the fire was under control and the order was lifted, officials said. All rights reserved. (WSAZ) - West Virginia American Water says customers are not impacted by the chemical plant explosion. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. Can we bring a species back from the brink? The Rush to Green Could Leave Us in the Dark. Built in 1929 to produce Rayon, today Spruance is the largest DuPont manufacturing facility in the world. The order was lifted around 2:30 a.m. ORIGINAL STORY: Emergency crews are on the scene of an explosion and fire at the Chemours Chemical Plant on West Dupont Ave. in Belle. It was at Optima Belle Chemical, a tenant of the Chemours Company Plant site. He said they do not believe any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. Senator says it's time to get construction started. Please be respectful of copyright. pic.twitter.com/TtXX20bu6q. His family is "devastated over the loss of their husband, father and friend," according to NBC affiliate WSAZ of Huntington. The life expectancy of the solar panels is more than 35 years. West Virginia American Waters Kanawha Valley water treatment plant is located along the Elk River, which is a separate source water supply from the chemical plant. The number to reach it for non-emergency calls related to the incident is 304-746-8828. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. In 2011, after a nearly 30-year court battle with residents of Institute, Bayer CropScience dropped plans to resume production of MIC, according to the Associated Press, and announced it would dismantle the production unit. The only place in the U.S. where MIC was manufactured and stockpiled was at Union Carbide's plant in Institute, West Virginia, in the heart of Chemical Valley. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a statement on John Gillenwater, the man who was killed at the Optima Chemical facility explosion last night in Belle. The Berkeley County Council announced Thursday that Torch Clean Energy, based in Colorado, is leading one of West Virginias first utility-scale solar projects. All Belle Chemical Company employees have been accounted for and safely evacuated from the premises. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) New details are being released about an explosion at the Optima Chemicals Company along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle overnight. There are about 200 employees at the Belle location. Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. A determination about lifting the shelter-in-place will not be made until that assessment is made. Explosion at the Chemours Plant. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. The proposal calls for annual safety audits by public health officials and other chemical safety experts. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol". Emergency officials had announced a shelter-in-place order for 2 miles around the plant and a nearby road was closed before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and allow people to move around. Kanawha County Emergency Management Director, CW Sigman, tells WSAZ.com chlorine and methanol were involved in the explosion. All Belle Chemical Company units have been shut down. Two years ago, Monsanto agreed to pay $93 million for medical monitoring of some 5,000 Nitro factory workers who alleged in a class action suit that their town had been contaminated with dioxin, a toxic byproduct of Agent Orange production that is linked to cancer. Explosion at the Chemours Plant. It left 300,000 people surrounding Charleston unable to even touch tap water and essentially shut down the state's capital city as residents scavenged for bottled water, baby wipes, and frozen TV dinners requiring no water for cooking or cleanup. 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. Audio. 60 has reopened between Campbells Creek and the Chelyan Bridge. Not according to biology or history. 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. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) New details are being released about an explosion at the Chemours plant along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle overnight. An explosion that injured four people at a West Virginia chemical plant and shook surrounding homes prompted authorities to impose a shelter-in-place order. 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. A 'very serious' blast at a West Virginia chemical plant has left four people injured and forced all residents within a two-mile radius to shelter in place, after chlorinated dry bleach and. As of just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the commission reported the fire was still burning at the plant. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. Its plant in Belle is located about 15 minutes south of Charleston. As fire lit up the night sky, the Kanawha County Sheriffs Department and State Police were controlling traffic at the roads around the plant. 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. BELLE, W. Va. (KDKA/AP) - A shelter-in-place order has been lifted for hundreds of people following an explosion and fire at the former Dupont Chemical Plant in Belle, West Virginia.. Residents who lived within a two-mile radius of the Chemours plant in Belle, West Virginia, were ordered to shelter in place following a "chemical incident and explosion," Kanawha County officials said. It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Optima Chemicals Company along W. Dupont. Details about the incident . The chemical giant also paid $9 million to clean dioxin-contaminated dust from 4,500 homes, according to the 385-page court order. 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. Manchin visits Milton, discusses new federal funding for floodwall project. But Donna Willis, 58, a disabled legal secretary who grew up in Institute and remembers the toxic releases and explosions, argued that drawing a bright line between the coal and chemical industries as if they have nothing to do with each other misses the larger point. Four people were injured. John Gillenwater was a true man of faith and the family believes in the power of prayer. 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. On December 12, 2020, the Gazette-Mail reported an explosion at a chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia. Gayle and I send our thoughts and prayers to John Gillenwaters family, friends, and loved ones, especially his wife Tina and their children. A mans world? Firetrucks responding to plant. The explosion, which occurred at 10:02 p.m. on December 8, occurred after a 1,200 gallon metal dryer became over-pressurized while drying a compound used for sanitation. There are reports of injuries but no specific details. The Elk River spill is the region's third accident in the last five years. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? appreciated. 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. Following the explosion, three people were transported to the hospital and a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. We encourage those who would like to show support for Tina and the family during this time to donate by contacting any local branch referencing the benefit account for John Gillenwater.. John was beloved by many in his community and his church. "This was not a coal company incident, this was a chemical company incident," he said, in an account of the scolding published in the Charleston Gazette. The project will result in the creation of between 150 and 200 construction jobs. "Unless it is in a container that says purified water, distilled water, or I bought it myself and put it through my machine, I don't drink anybody's water. By the time of the Monsanto settlement, Chemical Valley had already achieved a degree of global infamy, if only by association. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. A Warner Bros. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. 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. Carper also told local WCHS reporter Whitney Wetzel that the incident involved chlorinated dry bleach and methanol. Local outlet WOWK reported that several schools in the area also announced closures for Wednesday, following the explosion. The man who died was identified by family members as John Gillenwater, who was a chemical operator, according to Optima Belle. Scanner audio of the initial dispatch of last Tuesday night's explosion at Optima Chemical in Belle, West Virginia at the former DuPont Chemical plant. Example video title will go here for this video. The extent of their injuries was unknown. Carper said at first they believed there was a barge accident, but they soon realized it was an incident at the plant. "John was beloved by many in his community and his church," the told the station. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. 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. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet Site responders worked to contain the fire,\" Chemours said in an email. Explosion at the DeRidder Pulp and Paper Mill. It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Chemours plant along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle. Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. Senator says it's time to get construction started. Categories. Do Not Sell My Personal Information The explosion took place around 10:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, county officials said. "To those of us in the chemical industry, safety is number one," he said. All rights reserved. "The fire was significant," Carper told local outlet MetroNews. Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act creates a new criminal charge. WSAZ-TV reports three people were taken to the hospital and a fourth transported themselves to get treatment. DUPONT PLANT IN BELLE WEST VIRGINIA JUST HAD AN EXPLOSION! A 2-mile radius shelter-in-place was in effect earlier near the chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia, after a fire. 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.