The Monday morning fire at Magnablend Chemical Plant has reportedly prompted authorities to tell area residents and students at a nearby elementary school to stay inside to avoid possibly dangerous gases that may be released in the fire. WFAA.com has more:
Several large explosions could be seen as the fire spread throughout the warehouse. One of those explosions created a concerning large brown cloud, according the WFAA’s Gary Ultee while flying above in HD Chopper 8.
Ultee also said a man on a forklift could be seen removing containers away from the massive fire. The fire moved so quickly, it engulfed a fire truck at the scene as firefighters nearby battled the blaze. The blaze ate away at the truck, leaving only the frame visible inside the ball of fire.
According to the plant’s web site, 85 employees work at the facility. These employees have apparently been evacuated as well. One of the chemicals that has been reported to be stored at the plant is anhydrous ammonia. The North Dakota Department of Health defines the chemical as follows:
Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a sharp, suffocating odor. People will notice the pungent odor at levels ranging from 5 – 50 parts per million (ppm). Irritating effects generally begin at levels between 25-50 ppm. More serious effects generally will not occur until levels are greater than 100 ppm.