Chemical reaction responsible for Guthrie’s deadly explosion, officials say

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GUTHRIE, Ky. (WSMV) – An explosion that killed a man in Guthrie on Wednesday is blamed on a chemical reaction that blew a 500-pound tank through the wall of an industrial facility, the Agency said Thursday. Todd County Emergency Management.

The explosion occurred outside the fast-rotating anodizing facility, killing one worker inside and injuring four others.

It was deafening. It shook the building, said American cafe owner Victoria Slack. It was just extremely loud. You knew it was serious. You knew there would be people hurt.

Todd County emergency officials said a vacuum truck waste hauler was removing a chemical solution called lye from the Quick Turn facility when it began to smoke or steam.

A city worker who was having lunch at the American Cafe went to see if he could help when the gas cap popped open. The driver and the city employee were injured.

The force of the explosion sent the large tank into the Quick Turn facility, where the fatality occurred.

Slack recalls two other restaurant patrons who rushed to see how they could help the injured.

At that time, it was an emergency. It all happened so fast from the moment they ran to see if [the driver] needed help, until the explosion actually happened, Slack said.

Investigators believe the chemical solution inside the tank somehow mixed with an organic grease, like cooking oil, which caused the water in the solution to boil. The pressure got so high the tank exploded, emergency officials said. The tank held approximately 300 gallons of the solution.

Slack, during his time at the American Cafe, had gotten to know many Quick Turn employees.

She was heartened to see so many people in town rushing to help – whether they brought towels, water or any other help.

I think it shows that when something like this happens, you do everything you can and offer what you can, and you just work together, Slack said. We want them to know they have our support…that they’ve always been there, and that Guthrie was strong.

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