Broadcast reports from far eastern Oklahoma indicate there's been a large explosion at a metals plant in Arkoma, critically injuring a man and leading to an evacuation. The man was taken to a Fort Smith, Ark., hospital after the 1:45 p.m. explosion at the Yaffee Iron and Metal plant, according to KHBS. Early reports indicate the explosion appeared to involve military shells that were supposed to be inert and were to be scrapped by the plant. Residences within a half-mile of the factory were being evacuated. The plant is just on the Oklahoma side of the border with Arkansas.
Two hundred rounds of 155mm to 175mm military artillery shells were being stored at the facility, where they were to be cut up and used as scrap metal. The shells were supposed to be inert with all fuses removed, but at least one shell still had a fuse in it and exploded as a worked cut it up. That worker was critically injured in the blast and was transported to a hospital in Fort Smith, said Commander Bob Howley of LeFlore County Emergency Management. Explosive experts from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and a team from the Department of Defense at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., were on the way to Arkoma by 3 p.m. Monday, Holly said. "Since we're dealing with military ordnance, we're recommending the public stay as far away as possible from this area," Howley said. Officials were going door-to-door evacuating residents in a half-mile radius around the site. Evacuees are being told to go to First Assembly of God Church in Arkoma where officials have set up their staging area. "It's still going pretty slow right now. We've evacuated probably 50 homes in northern Arkoma and some along State Line Road in Fort Smith," Howley said. "We're evacuating people as a general precaution because we're dealing with unexploded military ordnance. According to the company president at Yaffe Metal Company, this material has been out there probably 15 years, at least. We're trying to a count from the Fort Smith bomb squad right now of what type of ordinance and approximately home many pounds that we're dealing with. I can tell you that there's probably in excess of 200 unexploded rounds out there. Some of them are inert. Some of them still have fuses in them," Howley said. Officials said they are also staying away from the facility until the OHP bomb squad arrives. Officials said there would be a public update by 8 p.m. Monday evening. Be well. Practice big medicine. Hal Hal Newman Managing Partner, TEMS T: 514-697-1470 E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TEMS www.tems.ca Information confidentielle : Le présent message, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est envoyé à l'intention exclusive de son ou de ses destinataires; il est de nature confidentielle et peut constituer une information privilégiée. Toute autre utilisation de ce message et de tout fichier qui y est joint est strictement interdite. Si vous n'êtes pas le destinataire prévu, veuillez en aviser immédiatement l'expéditeur par retour de courriel et supprimer ce message et tout document joint de votre système. Confidentiality Warning: This message and any attachments are intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s), are confidential, and may be privileged. Any other use of this message and any attachments is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments from your system. -- Posted By Breaking News to Break News at 11/04/2008 01:16:00 AM
