WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile: Smartphone,Tablet and SMS text Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter See-It,Shoot-It RSS News Feed Email List Tumblr


TECH PARK FIRE
Dow Identifies Chemical Involved In Fire At Tech Park; Blaze Quickly Extinguished

Reported by: Send eMail Kennie Bass
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Dec. 19, 2012 8:57 AM EST
Updated: Dec. 19, 2012 11:40 AM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
South Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Dow Chemical said the chemical involved in a fire at the South Charleston Technical Park Wednesday morning was trimethyaluminum, a catalyst used to make polyethylene, one of the building blocks of many plastic products.

The incident happened about 9 a.m. when a container outside of a Dow Chemical research and development facility ignited.

The sprinkler system engaged and alarms sounded, alerting workers to the problem. Dow emergency crews were first on the scene. They worked with South Charleston firefighters, using flame-retardant foam to extinguish the blaze. As a safety precaution, additional foam was called in from Yeager Airport, but it was not needed.

First responders said the fire did not pose a danger to anyone outside of the Tech Park. South Charleston Fire Chief John Taylor said it took less than 10 minutes to put out the fire.

A Dow spokeswoman said the company is investigating to see what caused the emergency.




A small fire at a chemical processing unit at the Tech Center in South Charleston Wednesday morning was quickly extinguished, South Charleston Fire Chief John Taylor said.

No injuries were reported in the fire that involved some type of material in a chemical processing unit outside Building 773, Taylor said. Taylor said there were no environmental concerns from the incident that occurred about 9 a.m.

"When the units arrived, there were pretty good flames visible," Taylor said. "We got it knocked down 10 to 15 minutes after arrival."

Taylor said units from the South Charleston Fire Department and the Dow Chemical emergency squad responded to the fire. He said he is uncertain who owns the chemical processing unit. He said there was very minor damage to the processing unit.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Taylor said Dow will investigate.




Firefighters were on the scene Wednesday morning of an apparent fire at Building 773 at the Tech Center In South Charleston, Metro 911 said.

The dispatcher said Dow officials, the South Charleston Fire Department and the South Charleston Police Department were at the scene. The dispatcher said the building is located at 1740 Union Carbide Drive off Kanawha Turnpike.

Details about how the fire started or how large the blaze is were unavailable. A foam truck from the National Guard had been requested, Metro said.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for further updates.





Metro 911 reported emergency officials were investigating some type of incident Wednesday morning at the Tech Center in South Charleston.

The incident occurred at 1740 Union Carbide Drive off Kanawha Turnpike, the dispatcher said.

It was unclear whether there was a fire or some type of chemical incident. The dispatcher said officials at the Tech Center had asked for a foam truck from the National Guard.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for further updates on this story.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
PITTMAN FAMILY SHOOTINGS
Family Remains In Shock Following Charleston Shootings That Took Teenage Girl's Life
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 25, 2013 6:15 PM EDT
Deputies said a man murdered his 15 year-old adopted ...
Full News Story and Video

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO
Protestors March Against Monsanto
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 25, 2013 5:57 PM EDT
Dozens of protestors showed up Saturday in Charleston ...
Full News Story

MURDER INVESTIGATION
Deputies Say Man Murdered His Stepfather And Tried To Kill His Mother
Eyewitness News Photo
May. 25, 2013 5:24 PM EDT
A Raleigh County man was arrested and charged Saturday ...
Full News Story



News Court Rules Fund Does Not Have To Pay School Loans For MU Player Who Was Killed In Shooting
May. 25, 2013 5:21 PM EDT
News Manchin To Introduce Veterans Legislation
May. 25, 2013 5:17 PM EDT
News Deputies Say Elderly Woman Robbed During Home Invasion
May. 25, 2013 6:24 PM EDT
News Scaled-Down Vandalia Gathering Held At Capitol
May. 25, 2013 5:06 PM EDT
News End Of School Block Party Held In Charleston
May. 25, 2013 5:08 PM EDT
News New Motor Installed At Waves Of Fun
May. 25, 2013 4:59 PM EDT
News Putnam County Community Members Work To Clean Up Cemetery
May. 25, 2013 4:52 PM EDT
News Ohio Officials Offer Cemetery Complaint Reminder
May. 25, 2013 4:58 PM EDT
News Huntington Allowed To Issue Citations For Junked-Up Properties
May. 25, 2013 4:49 PM EDT
News Hope Walk Held To Remember Goble
May. 25, 2013 4:48 PM EDT
News Collapse Raises Concerns About Ohio Bridge Safety
May. 25, 2013 4:11 PM EDT
News Registration Open For WV Conservation Camp
May. 25, 2013 4:07 PM EDT
News WV Town Transfixed By Teen Girls' Murder Plot
May. 25, 2013 4:05 PM EDT
News WV Officials Conducting Gypsy Moth Treatments
May. 25, 2013 4:01 PM EDT
News Cleveland Kidnapping Hero Makes Kentucky Visit
May. 24, 2013 11:35 PM EDT
News Live On Levee Concert Schedule Kicks Off In Charleston
May. 24, 2013 11:37 PM EDT
News Accident Briefly Closes I-64 Eastbound Lanes Near Nitro
May. 24, 2013 6:33 PM EDT
News Man Accused Of Shooting Gallipolis Officer Ruled Competent To Stand Trial
May. 24, 2013 6:00 PM EDT
News Driver Wanted In Police Chase Turns Self In
May. 24, 2013 7:50 PM EDT
News WCHS, WVAH Teaming Up To Help With Moore, Okla., Relief Effort
May. 24, 2013 7:52 PM EDT
News Second Man Arrested In Connection With Arson Investigation
May. 24, 2013 4:48 PM EDT
News Frost Advisory Issued For Number Of Counties In Eyewitness Viewing Area
May. 24, 2013 7:53 PM EDT
News Boil Water Advisories Issued in Four Counties
May. 24, 2013 4:20 PM EDT
News Water Main Break In Huntington Causes Service Disruption
May. 24, 2013 7:54 PM EDT
News Deputies Searching For Shooting Suspect In Lawrence County
May. 24, 2013 7:55 PM EDT
News Hunters Kill Most Turkeys During Spring Gobbler Season Since 2003
May. 24, 2013 3:50 PM EDT
News WV Joins Fight On EPA Greenhouse Gas Rules
May. 24, 2013 3:23 PM EDT
News Protesters Arrested At Alpha Natural Resources Headquarters In Va.
May. 24, 2013 3:18 PM EDT
News U.S. 60 In Cedar Grove Reopens After Coal Truck, Car Wreck
May. 24, 2013 7:55 PM EDT
News Convicted Felon Charged With Having Guns and Drugs Waives Preliminary Hearing
May. 24, 2013 7:55 PM EDT


Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
WVU gets gifts to support education lab

About $500,000 in private gifts is helping to support science, technology, engineering and math education programs at West Virginia University.
Full Story

Kentucky News
Caretakers charged with violating graves, theft

A grand jury has indicted the caretakers of a western Kentucky cemetery on charges of violating graves and theft.
Full Story

Ohio News
2 killed in overnight shootings in Cleveland

Two men were killed and two others wounded in separate shootings Saturday in Cleveland.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: May. 21, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
May 23, 2013
China One makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fire!Fire!

Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.