On the early morning of June 21st, 2019, an explosion occurred at Philadelphia Energy Solutions, an oil refining complex in the southwest part of the city. A large fireball filled the night sky. The fire continued to burn until daybreak. A deputy fire commissioner with the Philadelphia Fire Department discovered a fire stemming from a vat of butane, a colorless gas that is highly flammable. About 120 employees from the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to the explosion and worked with firefighters from the facility to put out the flame. By 7 a.m. the shelter-in-place order had been lifted, but commuters were still advised to avoid the area.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments around the country have responded to an average of nearly 38,000 fires at industrial or manufacturing properties.
Explosions at refineries raise concerns about pollution that may detrimentally affect the health of innocent people. It has been reported that explosions at refineries may lead to concerns about the health risks associated with tainted air and contaminated soil samples.
Should you or a loved one find yourself as the unfortunate victim of an injury caused by a refinery explosion in your city, please seek legal consultation to protect your rights and gain compensation for your damages.
If you or someone you know one has been injured in an explosion, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for a free consultation.