Thursday, April 25, 2013

Arson sleuths continue to survey debris at West


Memorial service to air by livestreaming on the internet

When as many as 4,000 firefighters stream into Baylor University's Ferrell Center to honor fallen comrades who lost their lives trying to prevent the explosion at West, people will be able to watch live on their computers.

By accessing the website of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at http://firehero.org/westtexas/ viewers will be able to hear and see President Obama's message, and as the solemn occasion happens, beginning at 2 pm. Parking for the public is available in lots C and D at the Ferrell Center, and seating for the public is available on a first come, first served basis beginning at 11 a.m., once all firefighters are seated.

Overflow seating will be provided at the Julie and Jim Turner Riverfront Athletic Park, 1612 S. University Parks Dr., where the event will be broadcast.

Key roads and streets leading to the sports arena will be blocked off at 10:30 a.m. amid heightened security in anticipation of the presidential visit. No sharp objects, umbrellas, signs, knives, guns, or liquids will be allowed inside the building, but cameras are.

BATFE and the Texas Fire Marshal released the first photographs of the actual blast site at the West Fertilizer Co., where arson investigators continue to fork, turn and inspect the rubble as it landed following the massive explosion of an estimated 270 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

According to the latest preliminary reports, the tanks that contained the anyhdrous ammonia never ruptured, the ignition point for the fire, and the cause for the explosion remains under investigation.

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