Fire Dies Down at Kansas City Plant

Firefighters doused the last flames and watched for hot spots Thursday at a chemical distribution plant that was devastated by fire a day before.

Robert Garner, senior vice president of environmental affairs for plant owner Chemcentral Corp., said an environmental team was ready to begin its investigation in tandem with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Evacuation orders remained in effect Thursday for people within a half-mile of the site.

On Wednesday, two workers at the plant were injured when

55-gallon drums ignited, producing fireballs.

Firefighters were finally able to approach the site Wednesday night and use flame-suppressing foam, and the last of the hot spots were being doused Thursday morning when another explosion occurred, Battalion Chief Joe Vitale said.

Some workers at businesses in the evacuation area who had returned Thursday left again after the new explosion. No new injuries were reported.

Fire Chief Richard Dyer said it appeared that a chemical was released and ignited, which set off additional explosions.

The chemical may have been polybutene, which is used in a variety of products, including liners for cereal boxes, Garner said.

"It's a product that we've handled for 30 years, always very carefully, safely," Garner said. "Employees were following the procedures and precautions."

The threat of additional explosions had kept investigators from examining the site and determining the cause of the initial explosions.

Despite the smoke plume's ominous appearance, officials said tests had found no threat to human health. Residents were cautioned against touching any debris or what appeared to be a sticky substance deposited by the cloud as it streamed southwestward, but Dyer said the material was not highly toxic.

The Environmental Protection Agency monitored the air quality across Kansas City, and all toxins appeared to be within acceptable levels, according to Dianna Whitaker of the EPA.