ATF: Kilgore Explosion Ruled an Accident
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TOONE, Tenn. — Federal investigators ruled Saturday’s explosion at Kilgore an accident, after they spent five days examining the plant. Authorities said the explosion occurred in the mixing room. Saturday’s explosion that took the life of one of its employees has now been ruled an accident, according to federal authorities. “It’s a process of elimination. We eliminate natural causes, then we eliminate non criminal. Then we ruled it an accident,” Michael Knight, an ATF spokesperson, explained. The Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said it is their job to decide if a criminal act caused the explosion. After that determination has been made, they turn it over to other government agencies, such as the Tennessee Department for Health and Human Safety. “We don’t pinpoint exactly, this was the main cause. Our reports will be extensive and those findings will be turned over,” Knight said. He said any ramification or fines, like the one Kilgore received in 2010, will come from one of those government agencies. Knight said other agencies will also determine if Kilgore is safe for employees to return to work. “Our main concern was the safety of the general public, safety of the employees of the company as well as the city of Toone,” he said. Knight said he hopes the investigation, and determination of the incident, will give the victim’s family closure. “Condolences with family of the deceased from the tragic event. Not only for the company but for the community itself,” he said. The national response team has also been called to incidents like the Pentagon crash site in 2001 and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993.
