By Catherine Cuellar, KERA Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-611205.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Host: Dallas police and fire-fighters have evacuated a half-mile radius southwest of downtown Dallas. That follows a fire and explosions at a welding supply company. KERA's Catherine Cuellar has more on the fire's cause and effect.
Cuellar: Dallas Fire Lieutentant Joel Lavender says problems started with an equipment malfunction.
Lavender: Then a small fire started. After the small fire, then an explosion occurred which injured the owner and manager of Southwest Industrial and Gas.
The two injured were taken to Parkland, where one is in ICU with thermal burns. Fire officials say the business has had a safe record for 30 years as a supplier of welding equipment, including the gas acetylene, which ignited. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring for health hazards. They say that despite visible smoke air quality is acceptable. Water used to fight the blaze has been diverted from storm drains to prevent chemical contamination. Eighteen fire companies battled the flames. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area due to street closures
Catherine Cuellar, KERA News