2 Killed, 13 Hurt as Peroxide Blast Shatters Chemical Plant, Starts Fire
Staff Correspondent
Photos by Mike Meadows
A series of explosions of undetermined cause that rocked a chemical plant on the southwest side of the City of Azusa, Calif., killed two civilians and injured 13 others, including three fire Fighters. Firemen from Azusa, Covina, Los Angeles County and two civil defense (Office of Emergency Services) strike teams from San Gabriel Valley area departments, joined to control the fierce fire which followed the explosions at the Norac Company, Inc., on the evening of June 13.
The firm, which is one of the principal manufacturers of organic peroxides in the United States, occupies a complex that has a dozen separate facilities from office buildings to chemical plants and a tank farm with 15 tanks storing various chemicals, within an area of 475 X 275 feet.
Across a railroad track, north of the Norac complex, is Reichold Chemicals, Inc. with various exposures including railroad tank cars and storage tanks. To the south is Rainbird Properties and a number of manufacturing buildings.
MEK peroxide is processed at the reactor room facility at Norac. While the MEK peroxide production was underway, employees observed a fire in the reactor room. An attempt was made to extinguish the fire with in-plant hoses. Soon an explosion occurred which sheared off the concrete-built reactor room at ground level and hurled projectiles into the air and in several directions. A chain reaction apparently occurred starting explosions in various chemicals at the facility. The explosion occurred shortly after 9 p.m. and was heard and felt through the central San Gabriel Valley area.
Azusa’s on-duty fire units, Engines 110, 120 and 11 under Battalion Chief Clarence A. Schad, responded and could see the ever-growing header of dark black smoke rising from the facility. Schad radioed for Chief John B. Littlefield and called for initial action response from Covina. Covina Engine 2 already was en route because of a decision by its captain to investigate the major explosion.
Nearby in Irwindale, Los Angeles County Fire Station 48 was rocked by the explosion. Captain Rupel requested a first-alarm assignment. On leaving quarters, he saw the same header the Azusa battalion chief saw and called for a second alarm from the County’s Valley Dispatch Center. A third alarm was also called.
L.A. County committed Engines 48, 5, 44, 47, 64, 82, 85, 87, 104, 151, 244, Truck 29, Rescue Squad 29, Light 103 and 52, Patrol 44, Deluge 87, Salvage 28, Utility 13, Battalion Chiefs Munger and White, Division Assistant Chiefs Enright and Shackelford, and Division Chief Ronald King.
Littlefield requested two OES/CD strike teams from Area D. They were team East from Pomona, La Verne, West Covina and Covina under command of Covina Chief Carl Johnston and team West from Sierra Madre, Arcadia, El Monte (2) and Monrovia under command of Monrovia. The latter team was delayed because of operations on a major brush fire in the Monrovia area. Littlefield also ordered a total recall for the Azusa department bringing reserve Engines 130 and 170 and a truck to the incident.
Explosions drive back fire fighters
County Engine 48 was the first to arrive and the captain advised all County companies to hold on Gladstone Street outside the facility until the explosions quieted. A large concrete slab had to be removed from the main entrance to the plant so the fire apparatus could enter later.
Heavy appliances and elevating platforms were put into operation within the complex and on the north side to protect the Reichold tank farm exposure. Fire fighters faced continuous explosions and frequently were driven back as they tried to attack the fiercely burning chemical-fed flames.
Once the explosions stopped, an aggressive attack was made with Los Angeles County’s 2500-gpm Deluge 87 and three portable monitors in addition to a master stream from County Truck 29.
Water supply from a 10-inch main was generally adequate, despite a damaged sprinkler system in the plant which cut pressures. Sprinklers on this system were eventually shut down and the pressure rose. Later, pump units laid out to distant hydrants to supply first-in engines.
Destroyed were the Crystal Building, the benzoyl peroxide plant, the MEK peroxide reactor room, the Green Building, the benzoyl peroxide and MEK peroxide storage bunkers, two exterior storage facilities, three storage sheds, as well as two tanks on the farm. Other buildings and tanks were damaged by fire and flying debris. Tanks at the Reichold farm were hit but not seriously damaged and several small fires were started at Reichold which were quickly put out. Minor damage was effected to a Rainbird building.
