The News-Herald from Franklin, Pennsylvania • Page 1

STATE LIBRARY EDUCATION BLOC HRR I SBUR3, 17126 4 ir 't i 1 i I fc.i44liiai 1 Closeup view, amidst smoke, in burning refinery Early fire view on road approaching refinery The News-Herald 93RD YEAR NO. 27,899 16 Pages 2 Sections FRANKLIN AND OIL CITY, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1970 10c Newsstand 70c Delivered rn K1 raw UVJ Four ofjers fturf of Sonneborn planf Three employes of the Witco Chemical Sonneborn Division, were still missing at 1 p.m. arter an explosion rocked the plant on Route 322 west of the Franklin City Limits at 11:30 a.m. today. Names of the missing workmen are: Willie (Bud) Wolford, 117 Tingley Lane.

Jim Mawhinney, Franklin RD 3. Ken Dunlap, Franklin RD 1. Rocky Grove Fire Chief Fred Hutchison confirmed the names of the missing men, but there were no more details at press time. The injured were rushed to Franklin Hospital for treatment and three were transferred from there to Pittsburgh hospitals. Wilbert Dietz, 56, Franklin RD 2, burns of the head, face, arms and body.

Condition is critical. Transferred to West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh: Steve Deeter, 20, Cooperstown, burns of arms, face and abdomen. Condition is critical. Transferred -to Presbyterian University Hospital. David Krizon, 46, Franklin RD 1, burns of face, arms, legs and body.

Condition is critical. Transferred to Mercy Hospital. Harry Anderson, 49, Franklin, was admitted to the Franklin Hospital with burns of the arms, neck and hands. Condition is fair. The hospital stated that many persons were brought there for emergency treatment and released.

The most serious of these was Jo-nh Griffen, 48, 22 Little Pine Place, who was treated for burns to both i 1 ii in ii i if --I 11 BULLETIN Two heavy explosions and four smaller blasts erupted at the Amalie refinery at 2:30 Firemen try to cool storage tanks at Sonneborn Amalie division refinery Police were at either end of the plant which flanks the highway to reroute traffic. All Route 322 traffic was stopped and detoured over Meadville Pike. Both The fire started at the southern edge of the highway and had spread across the road by the time firemen arrived. Successful efforts were made to confine the blaze to the southern section but wind whipped the flames as they shot into the air. Firemen reported that their efforts to use foam on the blaze were thwarted when it became overheated.

Franklin, Rocky Grove, Polk, and Oil City Departments were all on the scene soon after the alarm sounded and other volunteer units from the county were no doubt assisting. Titusville firemen arrived shortly after 1 p.m. Unconfirmed reports early this afternoon stated Grant Street and Atlantic Avenue were closed -near the plant and the traffic coming into the city was routed over Patchel Run Road. Smoke was thick over the entire valley. Trouble developed in pumping water from French Creek about 1:30 p.m., with the pump going too fast for the pumper on the trucks.

This led to apprehension that firemen couldn't keep the tanks cool enough to hands. The fire started in the main section of the Witco plant. There was reportedly one big explosion followed by several smaller blasts. By the time the first firemen arrived flames and smoke were belching from the plant. They used water to try and cool the other tanks nearest those which were burning.

The still was apparently the site of the original explosion and tanks in that Immediate area were burning. Some reports noted that four were on fire. Smoke was so thick and black that it was impossible for spectators to denote just where the flames were located. A tank of diesel fuel was on one side of the road and a large tank filled with gasoline on the other. Frequent reports came out about 12:30 p.m.

that a naphtha tank was "ready to blow" and the danger of further explosions seemed more imminent shortly after 1 p.m. Many spectators heeded warnings to keep their distance, but early this afternoon police were holding the line and keeping everyone at a distance. that section of the plant. It was learned that an emergency ward was being set up in the east wing of the solarium at the Franklin Hospital to handle the injured. Franklin City officials made immediate checks to make sure that water supplies were adequate and also determined that the intakes to the water plant downstream on French Creek from the refinery were not affected.

Mayor George Scanlon, City Councilman John W. Bailey and the city engineer went to the water plant, on the opposite side of the stream from the refinery. Persons watching the fire near the water plant were warned of the danger of explosions but were reluctant to leave. that two employes were on the tank beside the building at the time of the explosion. prevent more explosions.

The refinery is known by various names. Frank1 bn Creek Refinery, as it was formerly called, wa purchased by Sonneborn in 1924 and later it became Amalie Oil, or Amalie Refinery. Witco acquired Amalie in 1960. To Franklin residents it is known by all of these names and frequently just "The Foco." Employes number about 80 at present. Although there were no official indications of how Mayor Scanlon reported that it appeared that a number of cars parked between refinery installations and the creek were trapped.

At that time, 12:30 o'clock, he said the fire was tremendous. the explosion was touched off, Chief Hutchison stated that he had been told there was welding going on in.