LuciaDisturbed
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There was a big explosion this morning in the city where I grew up, it impacted the entire city/county. Click on link for pics, lots of footage.
Welcome to TODAY'S TMJ4 - The NBC Affiliate in Milwaukee, WI - News, Weather, Sports
MILWAUKEE - An explosion and four-alarm fire ripped through Milwaukee's Falk Corporation, 3001 W. Canal Street in the Menomonee Valley at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The fire was extinguished a couple hours later.
Three workers are confirmed dead with a possible investigation continuing for an unconfirmed number of missing.
Thirty-seven people have been injured. The victims were taken to various hospitals. At least eight have been treated and released. Ten were admitted to Arora Sinia, seven were released. Nine were admitted to Froedtert, one was released. A Froedtert official said none of the injuries at her facility appear to be life threatening, but possibly limb threatening. One 61-year-old man is in critical condition and in surgery after suffering blast injuries to his chest and severe orthopaedic trauma. The majority of the injuries appear to be debris-related and not fire related. Five patients were expected to be released Wednesday.
Falk makes large industrial gears and couplings, employing about 900 people in Wisconsin. It is a subsidiary of West Milwaukee-based Rexnord Corp., a manufacturer of mechanical power transmission components.
Rexnord, which owns Falk, has set up an information line at 414.286.3616.
Two buildings, a mechanical shop and a warehouse annex, have been destroyed as well as about 30 vehicles. The debris field was several blocks in radius. The explosion could reportedly be felt as far as Cudahy, Racine County and South Milwaukee. The blast seems to have been directed southward. It shattered windows in nearby buildings. Thick, billowing black smoke could be seen from miles away as well.
FATALITY
The cause may have been a 160 lbs.-plus propane tank. One employee believes that the annex, which is used for storage, is where the explosion took place. Several workers said a leak of some kind was being repaired when the explosion took place.
Falk employee David L. Mays, 61, said the company began to evacuate workers this morning after a leak occurred in one of six large propane tanks behind a building workers call the annex. He and others were outside when the tank exploded.
"It sounded like when I was in Vietnam, incoming mortar rounds," said Mays, an Army veteran.
The concussion of the explosion knocked him down and flipped over his car, destroying it.
"But I'm OK," Mays said as a single tear rolled down his left cheek.
Milwaukee police are asking people to stay away from the area because there are many gas lines and electric lines connected to the corporation that could be dangerous. Employees evacuated so fast that they left without their coats and purses.
Falk fire
map Falk Corp
Another worker said an incident such as this is surprising, considering the company's strict safety standards.
OSHA has responded to four complaints in the last decade, none of which was related to explosive hazards. In 2003, for example, the company was cited for air contamination. The company has a clean record with the city of Milwaukee.
The Falk Corporation experienced an explosion in August 1964 that killed one person. In that explosion, debris damaged a car nearly a mile away.
Twelve buses were sent to evacuate about 500 people from the surrounding area, including Palermo's Frozen Pizza factory, to Lot 5 at Miller Park. Falk employees are reportedly being bused to the TGI Friday's inside Miller Park.
Canal St. was closed for nearly seven hours. Traffic was cut off from the entire valley until early afternoon.
The Mitchell Park domes have been closed. One of the windows at the domes was shattered, but the domes are undamaged. The senior health fair scheduled in the area has been cancelled.
Falk explosion
falk corporation fire
Falk Corporation is a global manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee. The company was founded in the 1840's.
Workers often deal with molten metals in making mechanical gears.
The wife of one Falk worker called TODAY'S TMJ4 and said her husband, who works at the west end of the building, heard an explosion on the east side of the building. She said her husband actually drove someone to the hospital because emergency crews initially couldn't get to the site.
She said her husband called her immediately to warn her and let her know he was okay.
"Don't worry I'm OK, but you going to see something terrible on television," he told her. She also said that the company fosters a family atmosphere.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident at our facility today," Bob Hill, CEO of Rexnord said in a statement. "Our prayers and thoughts are llrst and foremost with the families of those who lost their lives and with those who were injured."
The Associated Press contributed to this story
Welcome to TODAY'S TMJ4 - The NBC Affiliate in Milwaukee, WI - News, Weather, Sports
MILWAUKEE - An explosion and four-alarm fire ripped through Milwaukee's Falk Corporation, 3001 W. Canal Street in the Menomonee Valley at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The fire was extinguished a couple hours later.
Three workers are confirmed dead with a possible investigation continuing for an unconfirmed number of missing.
Thirty-seven people have been injured. The victims were taken to various hospitals. At least eight have been treated and released. Ten were admitted to Arora Sinia, seven were released. Nine were admitted to Froedtert, one was released. A Froedtert official said none of the injuries at her facility appear to be life threatening, but possibly limb threatening. One 61-year-old man is in critical condition and in surgery after suffering blast injuries to his chest and severe orthopaedic trauma. The majority of the injuries appear to be debris-related and not fire related. Five patients were expected to be released Wednesday.
Falk makes large industrial gears and couplings, employing about 900 people in Wisconsin. It is a subsidiary of West Milwaukee-based Rexnord Corp., a manufacturer of mechanical power transmission components.
Rexnord, which owns Falk, has set up an information line at 414.286.3616.
Two buildings, a mechanical shop and a warehouse annex, have been destroyed as well as about 30 vehicles. The debris field was several blocks in radius. The explosion could reportedly be felt as far as Cudahy, Racine County and South Milwaukee. The blast seems to have been directed southward. It shattered windows in nearby buildings. Thick, billowing black smoke could be seen from miles away as well.
FATALITY
The cause may have been a 160 lbs.-plus propane tank. One employee believes that the annex, which is used for storage, is where the explosion took place. Several workers said a leak of some kind was being repaired when the explosion took place.
Falk employee David L. Mays, 61, said the company began to evacuate workers this morning after a leak occurred in one of six large propane tanks behind a building workers call the annex. He and others were outside when the tank exploded.
"It sounded like when I was in Vietnam, incoming mortar rounds," said Mays, an Army veteran.
The concussion of the explosion knocked him down and flipped over his car, destroying it.
"But I'm OK," Mays said as a single tear rolled down his left cheek.
Milwaukee police are asking people to stay away from the area because there are many gas lines and electric lines connected to the corporation that could be dangerous. Employees evacuated so fast that they left without their coats and purses.
Falk fire
map Falk Corp
Another worker said an incident such as this is surprising, considering the company's strict safety standards.
OSHA has responded to four complaints in the last decade, none of which was related to explosive hazards. In 2003, for example, the company was cited for air contamination. The company has a clean record with the city of Milwaukee.
The Falk Corporation experienced an explosion in August 1964 that killed one person. In that explosion, debris damaged a car nearly a mile away.
Twelve buses were sent to evacuate about 500 people from the surrounding area, including Palermo's Frozen Pizza factory, to Lot 5 at Miller Park. Falk employees are reportedly being bused to the TGI Friday's inside Miller Park.
Canal St. was closed for nearly seven hours. Traffic was cut off from the entire valley until early afternoon.
The Mitchell Park domes have been closed. One of the windows at the domes was shattered, but the domes are undamaged. The senior health fair scheduled in the area has been cancelled.
Falk explosion
falk corporation fire
Falk Corporation is a global manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee. The company was founded in the 1840's.
Workers often deal with molten metals in making mechanical gears.
The wife of one Falk worker called TODAY'S TMJ4 and said her husband, who works at the west end of the building, heard an explosion on the east side of the building. She said her husband actually drove someone to the hospital because emergency crews initially couldn't get to the site.
She said her husband called her immediately to warn her and let her know he was okay.
"Don't worry I'm OK, but you going to see something terrible on television," he told her. She also said that the company fosters a family atmosphere.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident at our facility today," Bob Hill, CEO of Rexnord said in a statement. "Our prayers and thoughts are llrst and foremost with the families of those who lost their lives and with those who were injured."
The Associated Press contributed to this story
