May 8, 1997

West Helena, Arkansas

BPS, Inc.

Setting the Scene

➔Bartlo Packaging Inc. (BPS)

➔located in a rural/agricultural area

➔agricultural chemical packaging facility

➔bulk shipments repackaged

○ pesticides and insecticides

➔130 employees

The Incident

➔3 firefighters dead

➔17 firefighters injured

➔hundreds evacuated

➔hundreds sheltered in place

➔multi-agency response

➔2 weeks to extinguish

The Response

➔smoke discovered by employees

➔FD called at 1302

➔West Helena FD responds

➔Helena FD requested (mutual aid)

➔West Helena chief meets facility

personnel

The Response

➔yellow smoke is observed

➔Chiefs review MSDS sheets

➔units pull back to plan

➔explosion occurs

➔4 firefighters trapped by debris

➔1 firefighter is rescued

The Response

➔firefighting operations cease

➔hazmat team requested (toxic smoke)

➔fire could not be extinguished

➔fire was left to burn out

The Chemical

Azinphos-methyl (AZM)

The Chemical

Azinphos-methyl (AZM)

The Chemical

Azinphos-methyl (AZM)

2783

Organophosphorous pesticide

What went wrong?

Possible Scenarios

➔chemical decomposed by compressor heat

➔decomp began prior to delivery

➔incompatible chemicals react

➔compressor overheats AZM sack

What went wrong?

AZM

What went wrong?

TNT

What went wrong?

Lessons Learned

1. facilities should have full understanding of chemical hazards

2. facilities, chemicals, equipment, modifications should be regularly reviewed for potential hazards

3. material handling and storage SOP’s should be in place

4. all product information should be accurate and accessible