A newly released report from the Department of Environmental Quality is shedding some light on what caused Monday's fiery blast at Calumet Lubricants. "The number one platform heater exploded and caught fire during the lighting process. The incident resulted in a small explosion that consumed the releif platform eight liquid and hydrogen gases," said Randle. Back in December, the D.E.Q. approved a permit that allowing Calumet to double it's production. Since then there have been four explosions. And for nearby residents like Velma White it's been a major cause for concern. "Right after that then things started going off... we started getting back the smells... the noise," said White. White has pleaded with several Environmental Agencies including the D.E.Q. and fears not only the threat of being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals on a daily basis. She also worries that one day the explosion will send toxins into the air and she won't know about it until it's too late. "We don't know about anything until we hear the fire department going there. And that's when some of the neighbors here decide to call... and then we know." Department of Environmental Quality Spokesperson Otis Randle says several chemicals were released during the explosion, but all of them are clean burning and should not pose a hazard to nearby residents. "Everything was consumed in the fire. It was all clean burning stuff and that did not result in any off site impact," said Randle. Meantime, White and the Residents For Air Neutralization are petitioning the E.P.A., for further study.
