How Philly narrowly avoided disaster after refinery explosion
Listen 14:09
Vessel fragment 3 (red arrow) weigning 15,500 pounds, lies in a ditch near the Platt Memorial Bridge on the grounds of the PES refinery in South Philadelphia. On June 21 an explosion at the refinery launched three fragments, including one that flew across the Schuylkill River. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
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Federal regulators have confirmed that more than 3,000 pounds of a toxic chemical called called hydrofluoric acid was released during the massive explosion at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in June. StateImpact Pennsylvania reporter Susan Phillips breaks down why no one was injured and how the city narrowly avoided a disaster.
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‘Great progress’ in South Philly refinery cleanup, fire commissioner says
About half of the original 30,000 gallons of highly toxic hydrofluoric acid remains. “A good week,” Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel says.
3 months ago
Dangerous South Philly refinery chemical still poses threat to community
Authorities will begin neutralizing hydrofluoric acid at Philadelphia Energy Solutions any day now, but doing so comes with significant risks.
4 months ago
The chemical that could have killed millions in the Philly refinery fire
Hydroflouric acid is a toxic chemical used in local refineries. Why a release during the recent South Philly refinery explosion would have been disastrous.
Air Date: July 30, 2019
Listen 15:27