CTA Report, Draft 1, ISP Review - US Chemical Safety and Hazard ...

Later in the emergency response process, inaccurate information also was provided to the IC that a
“cyanide trap” on the roof was on fire and about to explode. This inaccurate information came from a
truck driver who falsely identified himself as a CTA hazardous materials responder with knowledge of
the hazards and the appropriate response. Firefighters pulled back, and the incident command post was
moved. When this information was found to be incorrect, firefighting efforts resumed.
The news media also initially reported that the explosion released a 1.5-mile-wide cyanide cloud over
north Corbin. The IC then advised the media that the evacuation zone extended to only a 0.5-mile radius
and that no cyanide had been released, and the news media reported that cyanide concerns were
unfounded.
5.3.3.3 Fire Scene Operations
The fire was primarily confined to the production area and the baghouses on the roof. While two fire
crews fought the fire, another crew removed combustible material from the plant, including 80,000
pounds of powdered phenolic resin binder. The fire was extinguished at approximately 3:00 pm, except
for smoldering rolls of duct liner and semi-cured pelts. Nearly 4,000 rolls of the smoldering material
were removed from the plant over the next 2 days.
At 3:30 pm on the day of the incident, a U.S. military civil support team from Louisville conducted air
monitoring in and around the plant, which revealed no toxic chemical levels. At the same time, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an air monitoring survey of the surrounding
neighborhood. Again, no toxic material levels were found. At 4:30 pm, the evacuation order was lifted,
and local residents were permitted to return to their homes.
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