Critter’s Krib

Apex Under State Of Emergency After Chemical Fire

Town Officials Threaten Sightseers With Arrest

APEX, N.C. — Apex and Wake County officials declared a state of emergency early Friday and evacuated about 16,000 people — half of of Apex — after a cloud containing chlorine gas spewed from a volatile industrial fire.

Apex Town Manager Bruce Radford said a leak at the EQ North Carolina plant on Investment Boulevard sent several large plumes of chlorine gas into the air around 9 p.m. A large fire broke out at the plant afterward, sending flames more than 100 feet into the night sky and setting off multiple explosions.

“This is the worst possible hazardous materials incident you could have,” Radford said.

By 3 a.m. Friday, the evacuation area stretched from N.C. Highway 55 to Hunter Road, Hunter Road to Old Raleigh Road, and U.S. Highway 64 to Highway 55.

Mayor Keith Weatherly said changing weather conditions could force additional evacuations later Friday morning.

U.S. Highway 1 and U.S. 64 were expected to remain open for the morning commute, but Radford said traffic would be rerouted off N.C. 55.

WRAL.com - News - Apex Under State Of Emergency After Chemical Fire

UPDATES:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/06/plant.fire/index.html