Original Blog Entry: "Redstone Arsenal: Two People Hurt In Explosion At Test Area 10

konane — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:46:51 GMT

Redstone Arsenal: Two People Hurt In Explosion At Test Area 10

Explosion happened just before 8:45 a.m.

Claire Aiello Web Content Manager

10:35 AM CDT, May 5, 2010

Source WHNT-TV

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL - WHNT NEWS 19 is tracking down information about an explosion on Redstone Arsenal, at Test Area 10. An Arsenal spokesperson has confirmed two people were hurt.

The explosion happened at approximately 8:45 a.m. at Building 7352, the Aviation Missile Research Development Engineering Center, more commonly known as AMRDEC. The site is on Flicker Road.

Huntsville Police, Huntsville Fire and HEMSI responded to the Arsenal to help with the situation. According to Don Webster with HEMSI, paramedics treated two people at the scene. One was taken by helicopter to the UAB Burn Center in Birmingham, and the second person was taken by helicopter to Huntsville Hospital.

Another person was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital on an unrelated general medical call.

We understand the chemical ammonium nitrate was involved in the explosion at Test Area 10. The Arsenal sent an email to workers in nearby buildings to let them know about the explosion, and to say the situation was NOT an exercise. In the email, they asked workers to stay inside until they hear otherwise.

The email said ammonium nitrate and its combustion byproducts, while rarely lethal, can cause significant irritation of the respiratory tract, systemic acidosis and abnormal hemoglobin.

There's no word yet on how the explosion happened.

WHNT NEWS 19 has crews outside Arsenal Gate 3, off Redstone Road, and at Huntsville Hospital. We're working to get more information about the explosion and will post it as soon as we do.

Stay with WHNT.com on your computer, and your cell for the very latest information.

http://www.wqad.com/news/whnt-explosion-redstone-arsenal-050410,0,4550942.story

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