Jul 28, 2007 6:51 pm US/Central
CSB Investigators Wrap Up Dallas Work
Citing, Zoning Top Of List
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Federal investigators in Dallas have completed their onsite investigation into Wednesday's gas explosions on Industrial Boulevard and said they will consult local government to address how Dallas handles hazardous materials within the city limits.
In a briefing Saturday, officials said all of explosions that rocked the city may have started from a truck that was delivering gas at the Southwest Industrial Gases site.
Constant questions since that explosion prompted the Chemical Safety Board to say they will look into how Dallas and other cities zone businesses such as this one.
"We are going to looking at citing and zoning as one of the issues," lead investigator Robert Hall said.
He stressed, however, that the agency views citing and zoning a local issue.
"The local officials really need to understand the risks of the facilities that are located in their community and take that into effect in their zoning regulations."
Hall also was asked about the speed at which the fire spread.
"Before the fire fighters could even get here, the fire is already out of control.
The day of the explosion as officials gathered to address media questions about what sparked the blaze and how the city was handling the clean-up, fire officials said that even with their quick response time, the fire was so out of control the department could not get close enough without putting their people at serious risk.
"As one cylinder ignites, the heat of that cylinder causes the adjacent cylinder to release gas and they ignite and within literally a minute or two you have a whole bank of cylinders on fire," Hall explained.
The CSB will also compare Dallas's explosion with those of others that have happened throughout the country and decide whether new industry wide recommendations are needed.
This investigation will continue in Washington, D.C. and could take up to a year to complete.
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