In the early hours of the evening on the 17th of April, 2013 in the small city of West, Texas...smoke was seen emanating from the West Fertilizer Company building. In 20 minutes there was a massive explosion that levelled the facility and its surroundings, killing 15 people and injuring hundreds more. How this came to be, represented a failure of regulations, planning and grandfathering on every level.
With John Chidgey.
Support Causality on Patreon
Episode Gold Producers: 'r', Steven Bridle and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.
With John Chidgey.
Related Episodes:
Formal Reports:
- Preliminary Findings Chemical Safety Board (PDF)
- Final Chemical Safety Board Report (PDF)
- West Fertilizer Explosion and Fire
- CSB releases final report on West, TX blast
News Releases and Articles:
Regulations:
General Information:
- West Fertilizer Company Explosion
- West, Texas
- Polyolefin
- Asphalt Shingle
- Ammonium nitrate | H3N.HNO3 | CID 22985 - PubChem
- This Month in Fire History: April 2024
- City of West to Receive $10.4 Million in Lawsuit Settlement
Support Causality on Patreon
Episode Gold Producers: 'r', Steven Bridle and Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.
Activity