After three-year investigation, board concludes that fatal explosion could have been prevented
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Two and a half years ago, Central Texas changed forever. The West Fertilizer Co. building exploded on April 17, 2013,…
On April 17, 2013, Central Texas shook as a fertilizer production facility just north of Waco exploded from the interaction of ammonium nitrate with a fire. Most Texans remember that day well.
It’s been two years since the deadly explosion in West, but lawmakers have yet to make the critical changes that would prevent potential recurrences.
The sun set behind West, Texas Thursday evening while citizens gathered at a memorial service At the fairgrounds off Main Street to remember a terrible surprise in their backyard—the fertilizer plant explosion that claimed the lives of 15 people last year.
The small town of West, Texas pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the fertilizer plant explosion and looks ahead to the continued rebuilding of the city.
A handful of concrete slabs occupy the spaces where various homes once stood in the town of West. The newly erected beams of these houses rise like wooden skeletons, waiting for flesh in the form of floors, walls and ceilings.
When the West fertilizer plant suddenly exploded last April, the media and emergency response teams scrambled to respond. Now, nearly one year after the explosion that left 15 dead and over 160 wounded, a panel discussion and luncheon Thursday will spotlight the lessons, triumphs and mistakes made with the communication following the disaster.
The Texas Rangers have made a stop in the Central Texas town devastated by a deadly fertilizer plant explosion last year.
Bryce Ashley Reed, the West paramedic who turned from town hero to arrestee after the explosion April 17, has begun his 21-month prison sentence for illegal firearm possession and obstruction of justice.
Reed pleaded guilty in October to both charges after his attorney, Jonathan Sibley, filed for an extension in the plea bargaining deadline with federal prosecutors. Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Walter Smith said Reed must serve 21 months for each charge concurrently. He will also have 3 years of supervised release when his sentence is complete.
Anti-poverty workers from across the nation took on new roles Sunday when they put on hard hats and work boots to help rebuild recently devastated West.
The National Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps, an AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America program, attended the Hunger Summit at Baylor Thursday and Friday with their sponsor, the New York City Coalition Against Hunger.
By Maleesa Johnson Staff Writer Two Baylor professors were awarded for their efforts in response to the fertilizer plant explosion…
A majority of students in public schools throughout the American South and West are low-income for the first time in at least four decades, according to a new study that details a demographic shift with broad implications for the country.
The analysis by the Southern Education Foundation, the nation’s oldest education philanthropy, is based on the number of students from preschool through 12th grade who were eligible for the federal free and reduced-price meals program in the 2010-11 school year.
West Fertilizer Co., the West plant where an explosion took place in April leaving 15 people dead and more than 100 homes destroyed, was fined $118,300 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 24 safety violations, said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
OSHA had not inspected the plant in more than 30 years. The findings of their latest investigation, according to Boxer, were failure to have an emergency response plan, unsafe handling and storage of anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate, inadequate labeling of storage tanks, failing to pressure test replacement hoses and not having respiratory protection or appropriate fire extinguishers.
Five months after the West fertilizer plant explosion, the Long-Term Recovery Board has begun the distribution of funds for residents affected by the blast.
At a press conference Thursday in West, Ronnie Sykora, a Long-Term Recovery Center Board member, said the roughly $3.5 million collected from donations will be dispersed after petitioners are assigned caseworkers and necessary paperwork is filed, such as copies of medical bills, insurance claims and contractor estimates.
Sykora said West residents have an estimated $30 million in needs.
Among the carnival rides, polka music and slews of kolache stands, this year’s Labor Day weekend Westfest in West, Texas, celebrated much more than colorful Czech traditions and cuisine. This weekend, residents and visitors alike gathered to support a community devastated by tragedy last spring by the West Fertilizer Company explosion.
“It brings that healing factor to the city,” said Lisa Reynolds, visiting from Gun Barrel City. “It’s powerful when people come together like this.”
Kolaches, music, Polka dancing and more are lined up for three days to honor West’s Czech heritage through the annual Westfest.
Almost five months ago, an explosion from a fertilizer plant rocked West, causing injuries, devastation to nearby homes and casualties. In spite of the tragedy that took place, president of Westfest John Hurtick said the hosts of Westfest still want to focus on the celebration aspect of the event.
During the months following the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion in West that destroyed 100 homes and killed 15 people, the Baylor community has continued to offer support through a physical presence and large monetary donations.
The university created a West Relief Fund the week the explosion happened and by July 10, the fund had raised more than $290,000, the entirety of which was donated to the First Baptist Church of West.
Baylor students have a chance to turn their trash into someone else’s treasure at Mu Phi Epsilon’s “End-of-the-Year Yard Sale” fundraiser.
The event will begin at 4 p.m. Friday outside the McCrary Music Building and the entire Baylor community is encouraged to not only shop around but to sell their own items. Students who choose to sell their personal items at the yard sale will not collect the profits, but all the funds raised will be donated to the West Relief Fund and Mu Phi Epsilon’s scholarship program, according to Christine Cookus, a Spring senior and Mu Phi Epsilon’s treasurer and fundraising chair.
With more than 600 people still in Melody Ranch early Sunday evening and still more coming in, organizers expected the West First Benefit Concert to exceed their goal of $50,000 for victims of the deadly explosion by as much as $10,000.
“You see over $41,000 on the board up there now, but there are a lot of donations and T-shirt sales we haven’t counted yet,” said Nick Fuentes, co-owner of the night spot at 2315 Robinson Drive in Waco.
Several West residents are continuing the search for missing loved ones after last week’s deadly explosion, and for some people those loved ones included four-legged friends.
Following the explosion on April 17 almost 90 animals, mainly dogs and cats, were brought to the Humane Society of Central Texas, according to executive director Don Bland. Chickens, lizards and rabbits were also among those rescued. At the time of publication half of the lost animals have been reclaimed.