Coal silo blast sends shockwave across US city -- Society's Child -- Sott.net

A massive blast at a Baltimore coal plant caused some in the city to think they were experiencing an earthquake. A five-story coal silo in Baltimore, Maryland has exploded, and first responders are now investigating the incident, which people reportedly felt throughout the city.

The explosion occurred at the CSX Coal Plant Building in South Baltimore on Thursday morning. The massive explosion sent shockwaves through the city, with some questioning whether Baltimore had been hit by an earthquake.

City fire officials tweeted that the scene was "under control" not longer after arriving, revealing there had been no injuries discovered yet and all hazards in the area had been contained.

Images from the explosion show huge clouds of smoke rising up out of the scene.

The shockwaves also caused local damage, with some nearby buildings photographed with their windows shattered.

Hazmat crews, special rescue teams, and fireboats all responded to the industrial area after reports of the blast. Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter tweeted that she was working with Mayor Brandon Scott to address the situation "as swiftly and safely as possible."

City residents have been warned by authorities to stay clear of the area as they conduct their investigation. Baltimore Fire Department spokesperson Blair Adams told the Baltimore Sun that the explosion was caused while coal was being transported on a conveyor belt and coal dust buildup caused the eventual explosion.

Adams insisted, however, that there is "no impact or risk to the community."

Reader Comments

Winternights3 · 2021-12-31T22:16:39Z

First oil refineries, now fossil fuel plants, seems a tad strange 🤔 I'd be thinking.

slbeaudry · 2022-01-01T17:30:20Z

Winternights3 my thoughts as well

Joan · 2021-12-31T22:19:45Z

Now, not being a tin foil hatter. I wonder why a a coal dump would suddenly combust.

After all energy prices (for heat to warm a house, and to fire appliances to create a meal) are going through the roof. This could be a very useful commodity, to power energy turbines, when living in a digital powered world, where power could be stopped at the flick of a switch.

Justthinking.

balboa schwartz · 2021-12-31T22:40:18Z

Joan I'm thinking it was coal dust, which is dangerously explosive. Somebody turned off the air-filtering unit? Plain old saw dust, if fine and airborne, is also one of those hazards. I've personally seen that go kaboom.

Joan · 2021-12-31T23:13:00Z

balboa schwartz But,it begs the question, knowing it could be combustible, why was it there in the first place? What does saw dust have any relation to coal dust

Strange, in a coal mine area never heard of it before, saw dust, new one on me. Any combustibles were not allowed in or near a coalmine.

.

balboa schwartz · 2021-12-31T23:19:06Z

Joan Just speculating.....having seen something as ubiquitous on construction sites (my life's work, as far as earning a living goes) as sawdust explode dramatically from only a spark from an angle grinder, I was thinking that a build-up of coal dust from improper ventilation combined with any random spark, even from 'static' electricity, could be a cause. Then again, pyros do things like this for fun...

Joan · 2021-12-31T23:25:48Z

balboa schwartz Construction work does not compare. Your post reads like some kind of person, that has little knowledge but many opinions, and unfortunate at this time, that is what the world is filled with

balboa schwartz · 2022-01-01T01:18:12Z

Joan well, to each, their own.....Happy New Year. I'm not here to argue.

Tiu · 2022-01-01T02:18:34Z

Joan When you point the finger like that, there are three fingers pointing back at you.

Joan · 2022-01-01T03:10:42Z

balboa schwartz Yes I see your point, my mistake, Happy New Year.to you. But then again, I still find it strange.

ReRan · 2022-01-01T03:58:45Z

balboa schwartz Did not know that about sawdust. Just learned something new. I am married to a firefighter. When someone questions the cause of a fire, the blanket answer is always " excessive heat". Most people never question further, so it saves a lot of time trying to explain things. But even the grandkids know that you cannot have a fire without heat, oxygen and fuel. Good little students, they are. HNY!

codis · 2022-01-01T10:10:09Z

Joan But I think you were right.

Coal mine explosions were quite common in early times, and the danger of coal dust explosions is well-known. As such, the safety regulationa are quite strict, and electrical installations must follow much stricter rules than for usual installations. All components in danger zones must be spark-proof.

Explosion limits depend on the coal, but are usually in the range of 50 ... 7000 g/m3 (gramm per cubic meter).