The interior of Valero in Moscow was rattled from what is believed to have been a vapor explosion.
Explosion Rattles Moscow Valero Station, MOSCOW, June 26, 2014 - At approximately 12:45 pm on June 26, 2014, an explosion was reported from the Valero station located in the 1600 Block of US-59 South in Moscow. The Corrigan and Livingston Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene along with Americare Ambulance Service, Units from Corrigan Police Department and Deputy Byron Dunaway with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The explosion blew out a commercial grade rolling door from the back of the building as well as a number of ceiling tiles. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the explosion. The cause of the explosion is believed to have been caused when a tanker was filling and underground tank with gasoline. The underground tank has a vent that runs underground and up through the building to the roof where vapors can safely dissipate. The vent for the vapors, however, appeared to not clear the roof and appeared to be closed in. The vapors apparently filled the back room of the building. The vapors were somehow ignited causing the explosion. Firemen from Livingston went to the roof to examine the vent and found what appeared to be a vent that was closed in. Deputy Byron Dunaway launched an investigation into the incident.
The rolling back door was blown out from the alleged vapor explosion.
A door was blown out of it's framing in the interior of the building (Livingston Fire Chief, Corky Cochran pictured at right).
More interior pictures: Rolling back door blown out.
Firemen from Livingston prepare to go to the roof of the building to find the source of the problem.
The roof: Firemen located the vent. The pipe on the left is believed to be the vent, however, it doesn't clear the building structure which could lead to fumes building up in the interior inside the back of the building
This is the tanker that was filling the underground gasoline tank when the vapor explosion occurred. The truck pulled a safe distance from the scene after the explosion.
Fire trucks from Livingston and Corrigan in the parking lot of Moscow Valero.
Mixi assisted in the reporting of this story.
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