[9], USFA reported that the fire continued to spread in the stacks of drums creating a large fireball and leading to the first of four explosions in the drum storage area. American Pacific Corporation, Las Vegas, NV USA, 89169, parent company of the former PEPCON subsidiary and current parent to the WECCO division which manufactures perchlorate chemicals, including Human Resources, employees on site 5-4-88. [4], Several nearby fire departments responded to the accident. The shock wave buffeted a Boeing 737 on final approach. [6], USDOL reported that considerable evidence suggested that natural gas leaks were present in the plant. Two people were killed and 372 were injured. JACK W. REED JWR Inc. Albuquerque, New Mexico ABSTRACT An explosion at the PEPCON ammonium-perchlorate plant on May 4, 1988, in Henderson, Nevada, broke more than 10,000 windows and caused over $70 million damages to the Henderson-Las Vegas communities. Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada, This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 20:59. [6] A courtroom battle involving dozens of insurance companies and over 50 law firms resulted in a $71 million 1992 settlement (equivalent to $118 million in 2019)[1] with contributions from multiple parties including AMPAC/PEPCON and Southwest Gas Corporation that was divided among insurance companies on subrogation claims as well as the victims and their families. Le 4 mai 1988, un incendie suivi de plusieurs explosions a eu lieu à l'usine chimique du Pacifique Engineering Company et la production du Nevada (de PEPCON) à Henderson, Nevada.La catastrophe a causé deux morts, 372 blessés, et environ 100 millions de dollars USD de dommages. [9] Other visual evidence of burning, possibly natural gas, from the ground was discovered in various portions of the plant including beneath the gas and telephone vaults and portions of the asphalt paving. PEPCON operated in Clark County, NV, located approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas, NV, near the City of Henderson. About 75 people escaped successfully, but two were killed in the last two larger explosions: Roy Westerfield, PEPCON's controller, who stayed behind to call the CCFD; and Bruce Halker, the plant manager, who stood near his car when the first major detonation occurred. [9], According to the USFA report,[4] the fire originated around a drying process structure at the plant between 11:30 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. that day. The plant was built just southeast of Las Vegas near the city of Henderson. Considering the magnitude of the explosions, the loss of only two lives, and the fact that only a few of the injuries were critical, can be described as very fortunate. [9], USFA reported that there were a total of seven explosions during the accident. [4] The invoice for this pipe, which was installed in 1956, characterized it as "limited service". Pepcon Explosion: Real Audio + Audio Reconstruction - YouTube Subse- between industrial facilities and residential development was quent to the explosion, PEPCON decided to relocate, and also emphasized in the “Seveso II Directive” [50]. Time: Initial fire began between 11:30 and 11:40 AM, PDT. Aerial photos by EG&G, DOE-NVO instrumentation contractors, and site visits showed quite clearly where the final and largest explosion took place in the PEPCON plant. Crews in protective clothing headed to the scene to clean up, a slow process due to leaking tanks of anhydrous ammonia and residue from acids and other products. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [9] The on-site investigation of the plant revealed the presence of carbonaceous deposits around the perimeter of the foundation of the batch dryer building. [9] The first significant DOSH inspection did not occur until 33 days after the fire. [9] At that time, the damaged areas had been disturbed and key evidence had been either displaced or removed from the site. The … • The other producer, Kerr-McGee, was less than 2 miles away. [11] Fifteen firefighters were injured. USDOL reported that at least one fire was burning in a barrel located at the west side of the southern portion of the building partition, which separated the batch dryer from the batch tanks in the process building. [4], The USDOL report discounted this theory while relying upon eyewitness testimony and scientific burn tests. [9] A windstorm had damaged a fiberglass structure and employees were using a welding torch to repair the steel frame. [6][7], In addition to the PEPCON and Kerr-McGee facilities, there was also a large marshmallow factory, Kidd & Company,[8] about 500 feet (150 m) away, and a gravel quarry in operation nearby (3,000 feet (900 m) to the west). Several firefighters had to undergo treatment for respiratory irritation. At McCarran International Airport, seven miles (11 km) away in Las Vegas, windows were cracked and doors were pushed open. The disaster caused two fatalities, 372 injuries, and an estimated $100 million of damage. —144.166.176.190 23:06, 27 April 2011 (UTC) Done. Damage to windows and moderate structure damage was recorded within three miles (4.8 km) of the incident. Compare the picture above with the air pictures in the YouTube videos. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster, Palmdale Regional Airport/United States Air Force Plant 42, Plant 42 - Site 10: Lockheed Martin "Skunk Works", Lehigh Southwest Cement - Permanente Plant, Springfield South Valley Ranch subdivision. A large portion of the Las Vegas Valley within a 10-mile (16 km) radius of the plant was affected, and several agencies activated disaster plans. This facility is now owned and operated by the Clark County School District Facilities Service Center. [2], The PEPCON plant, located in Henderson, Nevada, 10 miles (16 km) from Las Vegas, was one of only two American producers of ammonium perchlorate ("AP"), an oxidizer used in solid propellant rocket boosters, including the Space Shuttle, military weapons (SLBMs launched from nuclear submarines), and non-weaponized rocket programs (Atlas, Patriot, etc.). The USFA report stated that this activity caused a fire that spread rapidly in the fiberglass material, accelerated by nearby ammonium perchlorate residue. [6] The two largest explosions produced seismic waves measuring 3.0 and 3.5 on the Richter scale. The PEPCON Facility • At the time of the explosion, PEPCON was one of two major producers of AP worldwide. The driver of a heavily damaged vehicle coming away from the plant then advised the chief about the danger of subsequent larger explosions, which prompted the chief to turn around and head back toward his station. [9] Ten people testified that they saw the fire and/or participated in early fire-fighting activities. Utah aggressively courted PEPCON and the state legislature called a special session and overwhelmingly approved a bill that provided several incentives to PEPCON. Footage of the explosion were shown in the disaster and survival-related documentary-reality television shows: 1988 explosion and fire at a Nevada chemical plant, The largest of the several explosions at the PEPCON plant. Several theories have been advanced concerning the cause of the fire and explosions. In addition to ammonium perchlorate, the plant produced other perchlorate chemicals including sodium perchlorate. The plant produced ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizer used in National Aeronautics and Space Administration's space shuttle and the defense industry's Titan missile programs. Thank you so so much! [4] A large amount of AP remained on the ground after the incident and material was subsequently recovered and recycled within one year. USDOL reported this differently, stating that the fire spread rapidly to the north side of the partition, northeast and south walls by radiative and convective heat transfer. [9], Both the USFA and USDOL reports noted that the flames spread to 55 US gal (210 L) plastic drums containing the product that were stored next to the building as employees tried in vain to put the fire out inside the building with water hoses. The PEPCON disaster was an industrial disaster that occurred in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada ( PEPCON) plant. As he approached the plant, he could see a massive white and orange fireball about 100 ft (30 m) in diameter and dozens of people fleeing the scene. La catastrophe industrielle de l'usine PEPCON eut lieu le 4 mai 1988 à Henderson dans l'État du Nevada, suite aux explosions dans l'usine PEPCON (acronyme de Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada) provoquées par un incendie créé probablement par des travaux de soudure près d’un stock de plus de 4 000 tonnes de perchlorate d'ammonium, un comburant utilisé pour la propulsion spatiale du … Even more salaciously, PEPCON also uprooted and moved to Utah after their incident, rebranding as WECCO (Western Electrochemical Company), and once again suffered an explosion due to lackluster safety precautions on July 30, 1997 – sadly ending the life of Daniel Baldeck, longtime maintenance supervisor and survivor of the PEPCON location explosion. On May 4, 1988, a fire followed by several explosions occurred at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada. By the way I wonder if it is really safe now to live or work on this contaminated soil? The Henderson Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Nevada National Guard evacuated a five-mile (8 km) radius around the plant, concentrating on areas downwind of the explosion. I am sorry, I was replying to the post of the user "Henderson". The Fire Chief of the City of Henderson, who was leaving the main fire station about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the PEPCON facility, spotted the huge smoke column and immediately ordered his units to the scene. [9] Fire was also reported on the north wall of the batch dryer section of the process building. A lawsuit by a conglomerate of insurors led to "discovery" … The PEPCON explosion was such a traumatizing experience that those who lived through it will never forget where they were the morning of May 4, 1988. It even has the same floorplan. The PEPCON explosion occurred here on May 4, 1988. yea i saw that on max x one time huge explosion. Invoice, Jackson-Marcus Supply Company (Los Angeles, CA, USA) issued to the Nevada Natural Gas Pipeline Company, February 10, 1956. [12][2], In 1991, the Nevada legislature passed the Chemical Catastrophe Prevention Act, which led to Nevada's Chemical Accident Prevention Program. [6] On July 30, 1997, an explosion at that plant killed one and injured four.[14]. Location of PEPCON explosion The PEPCON explosion occurred here on May 4, 1988. [4], At about 11:54, as he approached the site, the first of the two major explosions sent a shock wave that shattered the windows of his car and showered him and his passenger with glass. The fire and subsequent explosions claimed two lives, injured 372 people, and caused an estimated US$100 million of damage. It’s a memory of the Las Vegas Valley that many residents are now able to ignore since Henderson and Las Vegas have changed how and where these industry giants can do business. The red zone in the picture above is too far north from the original explosion site. Box 1600 Huntsville, Alabama 35807 ABSTRACT On 4 May 1988, an accidental fire and several explosions destroyed the Pacific Engineering Company (PEPCON… Damage to windows and moderate structure damage was recorded within three miles (4.8 km) of the incident. You can find the exact location of the blast using that building as a reference and the railroad tracks which are also still in the same location. [2], USDOL concluded that the initiation mode of the fire was undetermined. Overhaul continued until dusk and resumed the following day. Thursday, July 31, 1997 | 10:13 a.m. CEDAR CITY, Utah -- A 70-foot-high chemical explosion at the Western Electrochemical Co. that … Cathy Scott. Many of the injured had been struck by flying glass when windows were shattered. The incentives included funds for the improvement of the road leading to the … Background. [4] USFA reported that the fire then made its way into the storage area for the filled aluminum shipping containers, resulting in two small explosions there, and a massive explosion about four minutes after the first. Location Distance [kml Windows Broken Incident per House Overpressure [Pal 1 0.5 < 116 700 500 < 300 that the largest PEPCON explosion was about equivalent to 227 Mg, possibly 454 Mg, of chemical high explosives. [6] It built a new ammonium perchlorate plant in an isolated area about 14 miles (23 km) outside of Cedar City, Utah with a substantial voluntary no-build buffer around it. Today, the Henderson site is a commercial development near the Valley Auto Mall which is home to several dealerships and a university. (WECCO). The windshields of a responding Henderson Fire Department vehicle were blown in, injuring the driver and firefighters with shattered glass. May 4, 2016 - A fire started inside a building at Pacific Engineering and Production Corporation of Nevada's (PEPCON) plant on May 4, 1988. [13], PEPCON had only $1 million in stated liability insurance, but costs paid by its insurer significantly exceeded this amount. The explosion as seen from Lake Mead Blvd. Recognizing the danger posed by a fire that was beyond their firefighting capabilities, they made no attempt to approach or fight the fire.[4]. Emergency medical services treated and transported about 100 patients to five hospitals in the region, with the remaining 200 to 300 heading into hospitals on their own volition. Explosion dynamics estimates aided in determining the locations of the initial small explosions and estimating the amount of product involved in the large explosions. [3] The other producer, Kerr-McGee, was located less than 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away from the PEPCON facility, within the area that suffered some blast damage. The City of Henderson is about to commemorate the 25 th anniversary of a tragic episode in its history. Possible causes of the accident are listed, though the official cause is still undetermined. [9] Product stored in an area north of the process building heated up and approximately seven minutes later at 11:51 a.m., an aluminum econobin containing approximately 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of AP located about 30 feet (9 m) west of the northwest corner of the building detonated, causing damage to the surrounding structures and batch dryer. On May 4th, 1988 I was awakened by an explosion which I initially thought was a sonic boom. [4][9] USFA[4] reported that the first of a series of explosions occurred in the drums about 10 to 20 minutes after ignition, and employees had begun fleeing on foot or in cars. On May 4, 1988, a massive fire and a series of explosions, the largest exceeding the equivalent of 1.5 million pounds of TNT, destroyed a chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada, killed two people and caused more than $70 million in damages to the surrounding community. Roads in the area were clogged in both directions due to residents trying to leave and curious spectators headed toward the scene, creating a traffic jam that took over two hours to clear. I used ArcMap to register the map on page 45 to a BING map background to get the location of the large explosion, using the branch of the rail lines on the left, and the 100M scale bar for size. The explosions leveled the PEPCON plant and Kidd & Co marshmallow manufacturing facility. Employees at the nearby Kidd marshmallow factory heard the explosion and also evacuated. "Ground Zero" is considered to be 103 Corporate Park Drive which is located between N. Gibson and N. Stephanie to the east and west and … In four minutes. The north arrow on the map is incorrect and is really pointing more NNE. The explosions affected a large portion of the metropolitan Las Vegas area and caused the activation of disaster plans by several agencies. Locations; Share. Authorities found the remains of Bruce Halker, the Plant Manager, but no trace of the other victim, the Controller Roy Westerfield, was ever found.[6]. You are right! The closest residential buildings were about 1 3⁄4 miles (2.8 km) away.[4]. The explosions also caused earthquakes, some of which measured over 3.0 on the Richter magnitude scale. PEPCON disaster; The largest of the several explosions at the PEPCON plant. The factory destroyed that was next to Pepcon was rebuilt on the same location. About four hours after the incident, hospitals were advised by the fire department that their disaster plans could be deactivated.[4]. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic and steel drums were used for in-process and additional storage at the time of the accident, as they had been for many years prior to the Challenger accident. The other producer, Kerr-McGee, was located less than 2 miles away—well within the blast effect area of the PEPCON explosion. The red zone needs to circle the area southeast of the big flat building with the white roof you can sea on the left side. [5], With the Space Shuttle fleet grounded as a result of the January 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, there was United States Government instruction that the excess product — which was to be used to improve Shuttle launches and which was owned by the U.S. Government or its prime contractors — would be stored in customer-owned aluminum bins as customer-owned material at the PEPCON plant. The United States Department of Labor (USDOL), working with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) issued a lengthy report on the accident that discounted the cause and origin findings of the CCFD. At the time of the explosion, PEPCON was one of two major producers of AP worldwide. The explosions leveled the PEPCON plant and Kidd & Co marshmallow manufacturing facility. Damage within a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) radius was severe, including destroyed cars, damage to buildings and downed power lines. [6][12], After the incident, American Pacific Corporation changed the name of the perchlorate chemicals manufacturing subsidiary to PEPCON Production, Inc and within one year, to Western Electrochemical Co. [9] USDOL reported that testimony indicated that welding operations had taken place somewhere between 30 and 90 minutes prior to the discovery of the fire. [4], USDOL also reported that there was strong evidence of a natural gas fire prior to the second explosion at the northeast edge of the plant within a 6 ft × 200 ft (2 m × 61 m) narrow band of soft sand. [9] The Clark County Fire Department (CCFD) in Clark County, Nevada, did not issue a formal report but did issue a two-page press release on July 15, 1988, describing what it believed to be the cause of the fire; this and other CCFD information was incorporated into a report by the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Subsequent to the explosion, PEPCON decided to relocate, and was considering two locations in Nevada and one location in the State of Utah. An industrial accident that reminds long-time residents of the recent disaster in West, Texas. [9] USFA reported that little fuel remained after that, causing the flame to diminish rapidly, except for a fireball that was supplied by the high-pressure natural gas line underneath the plant, which had been ruptured by one of the explosions. [4], The second major explosion nearly destroyed the chief's car; after he and his passenger were cut by flying glass, he was able to drive the damaged vehicle to a hospital. INJURIES FROM THE PEPCON EXPLOSION (1988) AND OTHER INCIDENTS. Damage within a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) radius was severe, including destroyed cars, damage to buildings and downed power lines. Not long after I moved to Las Vegas in 1988, the Pepcon explosion occurred. More than an hour after the first explosions, authorities concluded that the airborne products could be a respiratory irritant; it was not considered highly toxic, nor was the danger of further explosions estimated as high. [6] Ammonium perchlorate manufactured for other United States government programs was not held at the PEPCON plant during this period. [6] Kidd & Co rebuilt their plant on their original location. Just before noon, on May 4, 1988, a chemical plant called PEPCON (located at what is now Wigwam Parkway and Gibson Road) caught fire. PEPCON EXPLOSION TO INHABITED BUILDING DISTANCE EXPECTATIONS JACK W. REED, JWR, Inc. 5301 Central NE, Suite 220 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 and WILLIAM H. ZEHRT, JR., P. E. U. S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville P. O. This building you can see also in the videos. Perchlorate shipments out of Pepcon had been suspended following the Challenger explosion in 1986, leaving stockpiles of the chemical in the Henderson plant. OSHA also placed […] USDOL noted that the Arson Division of CCFD maintained control over the site for several weeks and that DOSH and PEPCON investigating teams were not permitted entry into the facility until 13 days after the event. Kendra Brown and Pat Hinds watch the scene at the PEPCON plant in Henderson on May 4, 1988, after a fire and explosion rocked the Las Vegas Valley. The other units also stopped heading toward the site after the explosion. Conclusions are listed regarding major factors involved in the ignition and extreme rate of fire spread. That gas line was shut off at about 1:00 p.m. by the gas company at a valve about a mile away. En 1988, l’explosion de l'usine Pepcon aux Etats-Unis est provoquée à la suite d'un incendie du stock de perchlorate d'ammonium. May 4, 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the PEPCON explosion in Henderson, NV. 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