Jones Chemical; St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida | 1986-Aug-06

Initial Notification: Jones Chemical, Inc. of St. Petersburg, Florida, repackages chlorine and distributes swimming pool chemicals. The warehouse, located in a small industrial area surrounded by residential housing, caught fire at 0950 on August 6, 1986. At the time, the warehouse contained approximately 10,000 pounds of HTH, a commercial swimming pool chemical; 1,000 pounds of copper sulphate, 2,000 pounds of calcium hypochlorite; and 3,000 chlorinated cartridge filters. Located within 100 yards of the warehouse was a rail tank car and about 50 additional cylinders, all containing pure chlorine. The St. Petersburg Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team and several hazardous materials teams from nearby communities responded to the fire. The fire produced a large vapor plume which reportedly extended several miles downwind initially. The plume contained both chlorine and hydrochloric acid vapors. Residents and businesses located downwind of the warehouse were evacuated. USCG district 7.