Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information. IE 11 is not supported. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said three people were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person took himself to seek treatment. He said they do not believe any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? ORIGINAL STORY: Emergency crews are on the scene of an explosion and fire at the Chemours Chemical Plant on West Dupont Ave. in Belle. SHELTER IN PLACE IS IN EFFECT. The chemical giant also paid $9 million to clean dioxin-contaminated dust from 4,500 homes, according to the 385-page court order. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Carper said at first they believed there was a barge accident, but they soon realized it was an incident at the plant. 2023 Cable News Network. "We've had at least one very serious explosion and a working fire at the plant," Carper told the news station. The extent of their injuries was unknown. The plant is along the Kanawha River in eastern Kanawha County. Or to see children with chronic skin rashes. Appalachian Power and Mon Power report approximately 60,000 customers without service Saturday morning. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Jim Justice initially said at least four people were hurt in the explosion. Site responders worked to contain the fire,\" Chemours said in an email. A fire was extinguished about two hours after the blast was first reported, with local emergency responders reporting that the scene had been stabilized. Optima said it is cooperating fully in an investigation, and its thoughts and prayers go out to its employees, their families and the communities affected. NOW WATCH: We tried Plant Power, the vegan fast-food chain taking over the West Coast, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The Bedington Energy Facility will stand on the site of a former industrial facility that was previously designated as a Brownfield site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to potential contamination from the DuPont operations. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Patrol Officer Cassie Marie Johnson Memorial Act creates a new criminal charge. They say first responders will have to let the fire burn out before theyll be able to go in and assess the scene. For all the industrial incidents and accidents, residents say not much in their state seems to change. "We drink the water, too.". As of just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the commission reported the fire was still burning at the plant. Example video title will go here for this video. All rights reserved. The outcome could have been much worse if not for all the first responders, said Justice. Copyright 2020 WSAZ. BELLE, W.Va. An explosion at a West Virginia chemical plant on Wednesday night prompted authorities to order residents within 2 miles of the plant to remain indoors. 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. The man who died was identified by family members as John Gillenwater, who was a chemical operator, according to Optima Belle. Hey Kanawha County. And though some of West Virginia's chemical manufacturers have shifted to Calgary's gas fields and to the oil-rich Gulf Coast in recent years, the discovery of the Marcellus Shalewhich extends throughout much of the eastern United States and is touted as the largest natural gas field in the worldhas raised hopes of a rebirth of Chemical Valley. Weve contacted the state and the Governors Office for assistance, Carper said. 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. Among the injured was another plant worker and someone who was hit by debris. The DuPont Spruance manufacturing site sits along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The 723-acre former DuPont site is situated along the Kanawha River and has manufactured various specialty and agricultural products since 1926. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol". 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. Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. As of just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the commission reported the fire was still burning at the plant. Carper said the explosion and fire likely involved chlorinated dry bleach and methanol and started with a barge, possibly offloading. James Mason, whos with KCEAA, said they have their mass causality teams and mass triage teams ready as a precautionary measure. Browse By. It is unclear whether the explosion involved any chemicals at the plant, formerly known as the DuPont . John was beloved by many in his community and his church, the family said in a statement. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet WSAZ-TV reports three people were taken to the hospital and a fourth transported themselves to get treatment. Discovery Company. !Fire, explosion at West Virginia chemical plant prompt warning for . The 723-acre site is located along the Kanawha River about 10 miles southeast of Charleston. WSAZ has been told the explosion happened at a tenant company that operates at Chemours called Optima. First published on December 9, 2020 / 6:39 AM. But the measures found little support in the capitol in Charleston. 60 has reopened between Campbells Creek and the Chelyan Bridge. 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. It shook peoples houses on both sides of the river., He added, It shook homes and businesses clear over on the Marmet side of the river.. 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 -. Its plant in Belle is located about 15 minutes south of Charleston. But the real buildup came with World War I and the demand for explosives and other chemical products. That river wends through the mountains and empties into the Ohio River on the Ohio-West Virginia border at Point Pleasant. "The fire was significant," Carper told local outlet MetroNews. Kanawha Countys Emergency Operations Center was activated, and Kanawha County emergency and homeland security responders were at the scene. House approves bill named after fallen Charleston police officer. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The explosion sent large chunks of metal through the air. "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. Road closures, shelter-in-place in effect after chemical plant explosion in Kanawha Valley, Sheriff releases name after body found in Mason County, Wind spreads flames across several properties, Man dies in law enforcement custody; death investigation underway, Herd faithful showing up in Pensacola for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. We are in Marmet side of river pic.twitter.com/ICvzeRYDwc. There are about 200 employees at the Belle location. The explosion occurred near the Chemours plant in Belle just after 10 p.m. Carper also told local WCHS reporter Whitney Wetzel that the incident involved chlorinated dry bleach and methanol. 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. Site responders are working to contain the fire. Jim Justice tweeted that he has been briefed and that he and his wife were praying for the safety of everyone involved.Sen. The town of Belle has about 1,100 residents. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. These skeletons may have the answer, Scientists are making advancements in birth controlfor men, Blood cleaning? Metro 911 reports that U.S. 60 is shut down from Campbells Creek to the Chelyan Bridge due to the emergency. Jim Justice said in a tweet that he was aware of the situation. Local outlet WOWK reported that several schools in the area also announced closures for Wednesday, following the explosion. CNNs Joe Sutton contributed to this report. 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. Four injuries were reported, and area schools were closing Wednesday as a precaution. 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 early Wednesday. Two of the injured were from inside the plant. pic.twitter.com/TtXX20bu6q, Chris Kessell (@THEChrisKessell) December 9, 2020. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? According to emergency officials, the explosion occurred at 8:40 a.m. in a furnace. 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. The life expectancy of the solar panels is more than 35 years. It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Optima Chemicals Company along W. Dupont. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. Early Wednesday morning, the Kanawha County Commission said the order had been lifted. Torch is excited to be working with Berkeley County to develop the Bedington Energy Facility, Torch Clean Energy President Jon Kilberg said. 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 water company says customers will not see any changes to their water services. 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. Metro 911 reports that U.S. 60 is shut down from Campbells Creek to the Chelyan Bridge due to the emergency. 10:28 PM EST, Wed December 9, 2020. Heres the technology that helped scientists find itand what it may have been used for. 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. Or bathtub enamel eaten away, leaving locals to wonder what the same water was doing to their teeth. Copyright 2020 WSAZ. 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. Three accidents occur over a 33-hour period at the Dupont plant in Belle, WV. For nearly a century, Chemical Valley was home to the largest concentration of chemical plants in the United States, according to a 2004 history by Nathan Cantrell, published by the West Virginia Historical Society. An aerial view of Catenary Coal Co. mountaintop removal site near Kayford Mountain in West Virginia. 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. It happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the . We are actively monitoring the situation, the release said. Gov. 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. SHELTER IN PLACE IS IN EFFECT. It includes all of Belle, Marmet, Chesapeake and Chelyan. Spruance employs more than 2,000 people, many of which are second and third-generation employees. Several roads nearby were closed to traffic, according to WOWK. Tina and her children are surrounded by family and friends in this great time of need. 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. She's president of People Concerned About Chemical Safety, which pressed West Virginia lawmakers in 2009 to pass legislation modeled on a California industrial safety program that Nye says has minimized industrial accidents there. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - The name of the person who was killed in an explosion at Optima Chemicals Company in Belle, West Virginia Tuesday evening has been released. Explosion at the DeRidder Pulp and Paper Mill. 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. It is the former DuPont chemical plant. A 2-mile radius was ordered to shelter in place around the Chemours chemical complex in Belle, WV, WOWK-TV reported. The plant saw nonfatal incidents, including a leak, an explosion, and a fire, during the late 1980s and 1990s. The. 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. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. Other tenants at the Belle site also include Kureha, Optima Chemical Group, and Sentinel Transportation. "I urge everyone in the area to follow the Shelter-In-Place Order currently in effect. The company will also install a 100-kilowatt solar array on a Berkeley County School at no cost to the Berkeley County Board of Education. 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. 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. 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. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the chemical plant where the explosion took place. 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. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. All rights reserved. The Kanawha County school board announced that all Riverside area feeder schools will be closed Wednesday because of the explosion. "John was beloved by many in his community and his church," the told the station. That includes Carver Career Center, Riverside High School, DuPont Middle, East Bank Middle, Cedar Grove middle and elementary, plus local elementary schools Belle, Chesapeake, Malden, Marmet, Mary Ingles, Midland Trail, Pratt and Sharon Dawes. The explosion was massive. The plant is part of a larger piece of property known as the Chemours site which is owned by the Belle Chemical Company. This is a developing story. 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. Rt. The town of Belle has about 1,100 residents. 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. These animals can sniff it out. The plant is along the Kanawha River in eastern Kanawha County.Belle, with a population of around 1,100, is southeast of Charleston. 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. "To those of us in the chemical industry, safety is number one," he said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Hey Kanawha County. / CBS/AP. BELLE, WV (WOWK) 12/8/2020 10:45 a.m. Old cells hang around as we age, doing damage to the body. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Belle employees, their families, and members of the surrounding community who have been affected.. 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. Last weeks chemical spill is only the latest chemical accident in the Kanawha River Valley. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. 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. Thousands without power in West Virginia after strong winds move across the state. Optima Belle Chemical supplies specialty chemicals, toll services and custom manufacturing, according to its website. The shelter in place was lifted about 2:30 Wednesday morning. Officials believe the explosion involved chlorinated dry bleach and methanol, Carper said. Incident Description: On July 28, 2021, MetroNews reported an explosion at a chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia. The material in the dryer was a compound used for sanitization, the company said. Carper also says it does not appear any chemicals got into the Kanawha River. Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper saidtwo people were injured. Audio. Its still unclear what they produce at the plant. "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. A 2-mile radius shelter-in-place was in effect earlier near the chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia, after a fire. People who lived in the area reported their houses shook. The explosion happened after 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Chemours plant in the Kanawha County community of Belle, the county commission said in a statement. A mans world? Four people have reportedly been injured after an explosion at a chemical plant in West Virginia. John Gillenwater was killed in the explosion. A 2-mile radius was reportedly ordered to shelter in place around the Chemours chemical complex in Belle, WV. 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. 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. One was a driver who was injured by debris from the explosion that struck their vehicle. West Virginians in a two-mile radius of a chemical plant in Belle were told to shelter in place after a fire and explosion Tuesday night, officials said.The explosion occurred at the Chemours plant just after 10 p.m., the Kanawha County Commission said. The Belle Volunteer Fire Department was also at the scene along with every volunteer fire department in the area.. 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. Please be respectful of copyright. Then, in 2008, after the plant was bought by Bayer CropScience, an explosion killed two workers. 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. I urge everyone in the area to follow the shelter-in-place order currently in effect, he said. An explosion Tuesday evening at the Optima Chemicals plant in Belle, West Virginia resulted in the death of one worker and injured three others. Two of the people transported were from inside the plant. John was beloved by many in his community and his church. The Project will repurpose a former explosives manufacturing site, and with approximately $100 million invested will be one of the nations largest brownfield renewable energy projects. 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.. Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? Two years after the Bhopal disaster, Union Carbide sold its factory. Belle Mayor David Fletcher, who also is a volunteer firefighter, said the blaze was extinguished before midnight. The incident prompted a 2-mile radius shelter-in-place order, a county official told CNN, which has since been lifted. The shelter in place was lifted about 2:30 Wednesday morning. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. No additional information on their injuries was released. The explosion happened about 10 p.m. at an area along the Kanawha River about 10 miles east of Charleston. The Chemical Safety Board dispatched a team to West Virginia this week to investigate how 5,000 gallons of the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCMH) leaked into the Elk River above Charleston. ET, WCHS reported. There are reports of injuries but no specific details. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. 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. It shook people's houses on both sides of the river.". 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. 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. The explosion took place around 10:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, county officials said. The Senate bill shrinks the copay cap from $100 to $35. It is heartbreaking to lose a fellow West Virginian, especially so close to the holidays. 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. And though about 70,000 customers have been told their water is safe again as of Wednesday night, the spill has renewed the long-running debate over environmental oversight of the coal and chemical industries, the foundation for West Virginia's fragile economy. Officials let the fire continue to burn off until just after midnight when it was extinguished, Justice said. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time. All Videos; Safety Videos; Safety Messges; . Manchin visits Milton, discusses new federal funding for floodwall project. 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. U.S. 60 was shut down from Campbells Creek to the. Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. Chemical incident at Chemours plant in Belle. KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, nearly four and a half hours after an explosion at the Chemours plant along W. Dupont Ave. in Belle. The Senate bill shrinks the copay cap from $100 to $35. Optima Belle LLC said that three chemical operators, including the man who died, were in the building when the incident at its chemical plant occurred. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet Shelter in place up within two miles of Belle. Four people were injured. 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. The fire was reportedly still burning early Wednesday morning and officials at the scene said it would have to burn itself out before they could go in to evaluate. When does spring start? People who lived in the area reported their houses shook. pic.twitter.com/TtXX20bu6q. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.