425
incidents since fertilizer plant disaster in West, Texas: April 17, 2013
On April 17, 2013, a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas killed 15 people, 12 of whom were volunteer firefighters. This tragedy brought the dangers of chemical facilities to the national consciousness. A few months later, President Obama issued an Executive Order, which directed the EPA to act to make chemical facilities safer. Despite the Executive Order and the nationwide pattern of chemical incidents that continue to cause injury and death, we still don’t have a strong national rule to protect our communities from dangerous chemical facilities.
Please note that the following list is a conservative estimate of the number of chemical incidents that have occurred, and we are continually updating it to include more recent incidents.
Liquid Transfer Terminal explosion
Bainbridge, GA
August 19, 2015
1 killed, 4 injured
reported by WCTV
Hydrite Chemical Co. spill
Terra Haute, IN
August 17, 2015
none injured
reported by RT
DrillChem Plant Fire
Conroe, TX
August 8, 2015
none injured
reported by KHOU
CMC Recycling plant fire
Waco, TX
June 25, 2015
14 injured
reported by Houston Chronicle
Poet Biorefining plant explosion
Glenville, MN
June 21, 2015
2 injured
reported by Albert Lea Tribune
Antioch’s Prewett Family Water Park chemical exposure
Antioch, CA
June 18, 2015
34 injured
reported by ABC7
Wescon Plastics explosion
Wichita, KS
June 17, 2015
2 injured
reported by Washington Times
Commercial Metal Company explosion
Odessa, TX
June 17, 2015
No casualties
reported by CBS7
NA Industries chemical leak and fire
Chattanooga, TN
June 17, 2015
5 injured
reported by WTVC
Olin Chlor Alkali Products Division Plant chlorine spill
Charleston, TN
June 17, 2015
No casualties
reported by Cleveland Daily Banner
Andersen Eagle paint booth fire
Dubuque, IA
June 16, 2015
No casualties
reported by THonline
Koch Foods ammonia leak
Chicago, IL
June 16, 2015
3 injured
reported by WGN
UTC Aerospace Systems chemical spill
Windsor Locks, CT
June 16, 2015
1 injured
reported by Hartford Courant
USA Metal Recycling explosion
Neosho, MO
June 15, 2015
1 killed, 1 injured
reported by Springfield News-Leader
Coca-Cola Bottling Plant ammonia spill
Speedway, IN
June 15, 2015
No casualties
reported by WBIW
North Charleston Boeing Plant nitrogen line rupture
North Charleston, SC
June 11, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Post and Courier
Pennex Aluminum fire
Wellsville, PA
June 11, 2015
No casualties
reported by York Dispatch
Miller Chemical plant fire
Hanover, PA
June 8, 2015
No casualties
reported by WGAL
Holiday Inn Express chlorine gas release
Mason City, IA
May 30, 2015
13 injured
reported by globegazette.com
Lite Metals magnesium fire
Ravenna, OH
May 30, 2015
No casualties
reported by 19 Action News
Agrium U.S. Inc. gas leak
Borger, TX
May 28, 2015
10 injured
reported by The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Red Hill Construction Company fire
Santa Ana, CA
May 28, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Orange County Register
Liqui-Mark Production Facility chemical leak
Cottage Grove, MN
May 27, 2015
17 injured
reported by Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Cottage Grove – 3M Company chemical leak
Cottage Grove, MN
May 26, 2015
1 injured
reported by The Bemidji Pioneer
Butane tank explosion
Lake Cachuma, CA
May 26, 2015
3 injured
reported by KEYT
Propane tank explosion
Olney, MD
May 25, 2015
3 injured
reported by ABC 7 News
Goldfish Swim School chlorine leak
Naperville, IL
May 22, 2015
9 injured
reported by CBS Chicago
Granby Farm chemical spill
Granby, MA
May 21, 2015
1 injured
reported by WWLP
Propane Warehouse fire
Baltimore, MD
May 20, 2015
3 injured
reported by WBAL
Auto Shop fire
San Jose, CA
May 19, 2015
No casualties
reported by NBC Bay Area
Oil Well explosion
Karnes City, TX
May 19, 2015
No casualties, homes evacuated
reported by The Republic
Crude Oil Tank spill
Albany, NY
May 19, 2015
2 injured
reported by News 10
Fresh Express ammonia leak
Morrow, GA
May 18, 2015
No casualties
reported by Jackson Progress-Argus
OmniSource Metal Recycling plant fire
Anderson, SC
May 18, 2015
1 killed, 1 injured
reported by Greenville Online
Philadelphia Floor Store and Centex fire
Conshohocken, PA
May 17, 2015
1 injured
reported by Firefighter Nation
Apex High School chem lab fire
Apex, NC
May 15, 2015
1 injured
reported by WRAL
Calpine – Hay Road Energy Center fire
Wilmington, DE
May 14, 2015
No casualties
reported by WBOC
Acton Technologies Inc. fire
Pittston, PA
May 13, 2015
1 injured
reported by Times Leader
EC Phillips and Son Inc. ammonia leak
Ketchikan, AK
May 12, 2015
No casualties, area evacuations
reported by KRBD
USALCO Plant leak
Fairfield, OH
May 12, 2015
No casualties
reported by Local 12
Yorktown High School chemical spill
Arlington, VA
May 11, 2015
No casualties
reported by ABC 7 News
Blue Bell Plant ammonia leak
Broken Arrow, OK
May 10, 2015
No casualties
reported by News 9
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant fire
Buchanan, NY
May 9, 2015
No casualties
reported by ABC 7
TAMKO Building Products, Inc. fire
Frederick, MD
May 8, 2015
No casualties
reported by Firehouse
Toledo University’s Wolfe Hall chemical reaction
Toledo, OH
May 7, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Blade
U.S. Oil and Refining Co. fire
Tacoma, WA
May 6, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Spokesman-Review
Youngstown Waste Water Treatment Plant chlorine leak
Youngstown, OH
May 4, 2015
No casualties
reported by WFMJ
Newport News Harbor spill
Newport News, VA
May 4, 2015
No casualties
reported by WAVY
Whitewater River fertilizer spill
Milton, IN
May 3, 2015
No casualties
reported by Pal-Item
TEK Recycling plant fire
Fairmont City, IL
May 3, 2015
No casualties
reported by KMOV
TFC Plating Inc. fire
Milwaukie, OR
May 2, 2015
No casualties
reported by Oregon Live
Tilcon Plant fire
Groton, CT
May 2, 2015
No casualties
reported by WFSB
North American Container plant fire
Rowesville, SC
May 2, 2015
No casualties
reported by The TandD
Garage fire
Duluth, MN
May 1, 2015
No casualties
reported by KDAL
Home Solutions Infusion Therapy chemical leak
Hammonton, NJ
May 1, 2015
10 injured
reported by South Florida Times
Columbus Pallet Recycling plant fire
Columbus, OH
May 1, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Columbus Dispatch
Synalloy Palmer Facility fire
Palmer, TX
April 30, 2015
No casualties
reported by upstatebizSC
Silver Trail Distillery explosion
Hardin, KY
April 24, 2015
1 killed, 1 injured
reported by WPSD Local 6
Alfrebro LLC explosion
Monroe, OH
April 17, 2015
1 injured
reported by The New York Times
GE Appliances-Louisville fire
Louisville, KY
April 3, 2015
No casualties
reported by NBC
Renewable Energy Group Bio-Fuels Plant fire
Geismar, LA
April 2, 2015
2 injured
reported by The Advocate
ExxonMobil Beaumont Chemical Plant fire
Beaumont, TX
March 30, 2015
No casualties
reported by Houston Chronicle
Houston Ship Channel chemical spill
Houston, TX
March 10, 2015
No casualties
reported by Houston Public Media
Pepsi Bottling Factory ammonia leak
Mesquite, TX
March 3, 2015
1 injured
reported by The Dallas Morning News
Capitol Cement Plant explosion
San Antonio, TX
February 24, 2015
3 injured
reported by Houston Chronicle
ExxonMobil Refinery explosion
Torrance, CA
February 18, 2015
4 injured
reported by LA Times
TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining U.S.A. Inc. chemical release
Port Arthur, TX
January 29, 2015
No casualties, shelter in place order issued
reported by Houston Chronicle
Magnablend, Inc. chlorine spill
Waxahachie, TX
January 26, 2015
No casualties
reported by The Dallas Morning News
Husky Energy refinery explosion
Lima, OH
January 10, 2015
No casualties
reported by The New York Times
Sunoco Nederland Terminal exposure
Nederland, TX
January 5, 2015
7 hospitalized
reported by Houston Chronicle
Nashua North High School chemical spill
Nashua, NH
December 15, 2014
6 exposed
reported by WMUR
Akzo Nobel Polymer Chemicals LLC fire
LaPorte, TX
December 9, 2014
1 injured
reported by Houston Chronicle
Santa Clara Waste Water Co. explosion
Santa Paula, CA
November 19, 2014
37 injured
reported by The New York Times
DuPont LaPorte Facility gas leak
LaPorte, TX
November 15, 2014
4 killed, 1 injured
reported by The Wall Street Journal
Ekco Metals explosion
Riverside, CA
Sept 16, 2014
1 injured
reported by CBS LA
Science, Math and Arts Academy Charter High School explosion
Denver, CO
Sept 14, 2014
5 injured
reported by Associated Press
Nestle Purina explosion
Flagstaff, AZ
Sept 14, 2014
4 injured
reported by Daily Mail UK
Rawayton Trading Company fire
Bridgeport, CT
Sept 11, 2014
No casualties, numerous evacuations
reported by CT Post
BP Oil Refinery explosion
Whiting, IN
August 8, 2014
No casualties
reported by The New York Times
Contractors Chemical noxious gas release
California
August 26, 2014
No casualties
unreported
Cimarron Composites
Huntsville, AL
August 21, 2014
2 injured
reported by AL.com
CVR Refining fire
Coffeyville, KS
July 29, 2014
4 injured
reported by The New York Times
Forsythe County Water Reclamation Facility chemical spill
Cummings, GA
July 25, 2014
4 injured
reported by Cumming Patch
Xcel Energy Facility
CO
July 13, 2014
unreported
Evol Foods carbon monoxide leak
Boulder, CO
July 21, 2014
6 injured
reported by Washington Times
Oxnard Bakery gas explosion
Riverside, CA
July 20, 2014
1 injured
reported by CBS LA
Performance Mineral Corporation explosion
Birmingham, AL
July 18, 2014
1 injured
reported by AL.com
Walgreens Pharmacy spill
Birmingham, AL
July 9, 2014
1 injured
reported by Norwich Bulletin
AkzoNobel evacuation
Columbus, OH
July 5, 2014
No casualties, area evacuated
reported by WBNS
Agridyne LLC plan chemical leak
Perkin, IL
June 24, 2014
2 killed
reported by The Washington Times
UTC Aerospace Systems explosion
Foley, AL
June 21, 2014
2 injured
reported by AL.com
Swift Transportation hazardous materials release
Riverside, CA
June 6, 2014
35 injured
reported by The Press Enterprise
Koch Foods chemical leak
Gainsville, GA
June 6, 2014
4 injured
reported by My Fox Atlanta
Hilmar Cheese chemical spill
Los Angeles, CA
June 1, 2014
4 injured
reported by Your Central Valley
Escambia County Jail explosion
Pensacola, FL
May 30, 2014
2 killed, 184 injured
reported by USA Today
AmRep Inc. chemical fire
Marietta, GA
May 23, 2014
forced evacuations
reported by 11Alive NBC
ResinTech Chemical Plant fire
West Berlin, NJ
May 8, 2014
No casualties
reported by CBS Philly
Intel chemical leak
Phoenix, AZ
April 26, 2014
12 hospitalized, 43 sickened
reported by Reuters
Hess Pumice Plant fire
Malad City, ID
April 24, 2014
1 injured
reported by KTVB
Joshua Tress Furniture fire
Berkeley, CA
April 12, 2014
No casualties
reported by The Washington Times
Rentech Nitrogen LLC explosion
East Dubuque, IL
March 12, 2014
1 injured
unreported
Woodrow Wilson High School chemical leak
Washington, D.C.
March 12, 2014
1 injured, school evacuated
reported by My Fox DC
Atlantic Coast Recycling Center chemical leak
Ft. Pierce, FL
March 5, 2014
3 hospitalized, homes evacuated
reported by TC Palm
Bill Barrett Corp. oil and gas well explosion
Lucerne, CO
March 3, 2014
2 injured
reported by PennEnergy
Northside College Prep High School fire
Chicago, IL
February 15, 2014
5 injured
reported by Chicago Tribune
Dickerson Frozen Foods chemical release
Sugar City, ID
February 15, 2014
1 hospitalized
reported by Food Logistics
Chevron Martinez Refinery chemical release
Tesoro, CA
February 12, 2014
2 injured
reported by Reuters
Georgia Port Authority Ocean Terminal
GA
January 8, 2014
unreported
Quick Transports Inc. explosion
Clarksville, AR
January 24, 2014
1 killed
reported by 5 News
Plainfield Renewable Energy
Plainfield, CT
January 24, 2014
1 injured
reported by Norwich Bulletin
Vulcan Inc. Stamping Plant explosion
Foley, AL
January 17, 2014
2+ injured
reported by Industrial Safety Security Source
Freedom Industries chemical spill
Charleston, WV
January 9, 2014
356 treated for symptoms, 13 hospitalized, roughly 300,000 affected by water contamination
reported by CDC
Greenleaf Biofuels
New Haven, CT
January 8, 2014
unreported
Amgen, Inc. explosion
San Francisco, CA
January 8, 2014
2 injured
reported by ABC
Phillips 66 Refinery chemical leak
Los Angeles, CA
Dec 31, 2013
11 injured
reported by Daily Breeze
Blue Island Phenol LLC explosion
Alsip, IL
December 13, 2013
2 injured
reported by NBC Chicago
Mosaic Co. phosphate plant explosion
Tampa Bay, FL
November 23, 2013
12 injured
reported by Tampa Tribune
Jake Kauffman&Sons Inc. explosion
Loveland, CO
November 11, 2013
12 injured
reported by Reporter Herald
American Vinyl Company explosion
Opa Loka, FL
November 7, 2013
1 killed, several injured
reported by NBC Miami
Meggit Polymers & Composites plant explosion
Rockmart, GA
October 31, 2013
1 killed
reported by CBS
MedStar Washington Hospital Center toxic fumes
Washington, D.C.
October 7, 2013
1 killed
reported by CBS DC
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority fire
Washington, D.C.
October 6, 2013
1 killed, 2 injured
reported by NBC
Plaskolite West fire
Carson, CA
Sept 23, 2013
4 injured
reported by LA Times
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies
Springdale, AK
Sept 23, 2013
1 killed, 1 injured
reported by 5 News
Danlin Industries Chemical Plant fire
Thomas, OK
Sept 18, 2013
No casualties
reported by NewsOK
North Mac Campus chemical leak
Girard, IL
Sept 15, 2013
21 hospitalized
reported by Fox2
Inland Plywood fire
Cocoa, FL
Sept 4, 2013
1 injured
reported by Florida Today
Saputo Cheese ammonia leak
Los Angeles, CA
Sept 3, 2013
3 injured
reported by NBC LA
Simmons Plant No. 2 gas cloud
Siloam Springs, AR
August 28, 2013
34 hospitalized
reported by 5 News
Beautyco warehouse chemical fire
Santa Rosa, CA
August 28, 2013
No casualties
reported by NBC LA
Waste Water Treatment Facility chemical leak
Madison, FL
August 21, 2013
2 injured
reported by WCTV
Perma-Fix of South George, Inc. chemical fire
Valdotsa, GA
August 14, 2013
2 hospitalized
reported by Valdotsa Daily Times
Elk Hills oil well explosion
Kern County, CA
August 3, 2013
3 killed
reported by Bakersfield Californian
Blue Rhino propane plant explosion
Travarse, FL
July 29, 2013
10+ injured
reported by My Fox Orlando
Aimtrac fire
Sumter County, GA
July 11, 2013
No casualties, $3 million damages
reported by WTOC
Arizona Intel chemical plant explosion
Chandler, AZ
June 29, 2013
11 injured
reported by RT
Voltaix chemical plant explosion
Portland, LA
June 28, 2013
No casualties
reported by Pocono Record
Denny’s Restaurant explosion
Valdosta, GA
June 21, 2013
5 injured
reported by The Valdosta Daily Times
J&R Used Tire Service, Inc. fire
Hoopeston, IL
June 20, 2013
No casualties
reported by Illinois Public Media News
CF Industries chemical plant explosion
Donaldsville, LA
June 14, 2013
1 killed, 8 injured
reported by CNN
Williams Olefins chemical plant explosion and fire
Geismar, LA
June 13, 2013
1 killed, 73 injured
reported by Reuters
Boise State chemical spill
Boise, ID
June 9, 2013
1 injured
reported by KBOI 2News
Appliance Spacesystems chemical spill
Los Alamitos, CA
June 7, 2013
2 injuries, area evacuated
reported by Hews Media Group
Atascadero Industrial Complex fire
San Luis Obispo, CA
June 7, 2013
No casualties
reported by Templeton Fire Department
Nova-Kem LLC fire
Seward, IL
June 6, 2013
4 injured
reported by WIFR 23
Hilmar Cheese chemical spill
Los Angeles, CA
June 4, 2013
4 injured
reported by Your Central Valley
Morgan Park Auto Repair Shop explosion and fire
Morgan Park, IL
June 4, 2013
2 injured
reported by ABC7
University of Delaware hazardous material incident
Newark, DE
June 4, 2013
2 injured
reported by WDEL
NovaChem chemical processing plant explosion and fire
Seward, IL
June 2, 2013
1 injured
reported by State Journal Register
Xcel Energy Inc. fire
Comanche, CO
June 1, 2013
No casualties
reported by ABC
Exxon Mobile Refinery fire
Torrence, CA
May 30, 2013
No casualties
reported by San Jose Mercury News
Buena Vista Biomass Power accident
Buena Vista, CA
May 29, 2013
2 injured
reported by San Jose Mercury News
Chemical freight train derailment
Baltimore, MD
May 28, 2013
1 injured
reported by NBC
Dept. of Veterans Affairs chemical leak
CA
May 21, 2013
3 injured
unreported
Amgen biotechnology fire
San Francisco, CA
May 15, 2013
1 injured
reported by ABC
Airgas Gas Plant explosion and fire
Poka, WV
May 13, 2013
2 injured
reported by Huffington Post
Hinrichs Trading Co. fire
Craigmont, ID
May 12, 2013
forced evacuation
reported by KBOI2
Austin Powder Co. explosion
Sterling, CO
May 10, 2013
1 injured
reported by WFSB
Eastern Metal Treating explosion
Enfield, CT
May 7, 2013
2 injured
reported by Associated Press
Chemplex explosion and fire
Breckenridge, TX
May 6, 2013
no casualties
reported by Breckenridge American
Brenntag Mid-South Chemical Plant chlorine leak
Orange County, FL
May 2, 2013
No casualties
reported by WESH Orlando
Southern Perfection Fabrication, Inc. explosion and fire
Byron, GA
May 2, 2013
3 injuries
reported by 13 WMAZ
Paramount Farming Company chemical release
Detroit, MI
April 28, 2013
3 hospitalized, 20 sickened
reported by Bakersfield Californian
Sherman Brothers Trucking Inc. overexposure death
Crossett, AR
April 29, 2013
1 killed
unreported
Marathon Petroleum Plant fire
Detroit, MI
April 27, 2013
no casualties
reported by Wall St JournalDetroit Free Press