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    • What caused the Louisville explosion? What to know about the investigation
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    What caused the Louisville explosion? What to know about the investigation

    Harry Posted on

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    Researchers are beginning to understand how and why an event happens. Explosion shattered Givaudan Sense Color Leaving the industrial facility in Clifton on Tuesday two people died and several more people were injured.

    The process of reconstructing the incident and determining possible causes will take time, officials said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

    The Louisville Fire Department and other local agencies will be joined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate what happened.

    ATF has “extensive experience investigating large explosives and fire scenes,” said Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge of the bureau’s Louisville field division. “We sent ATF’s national response team to the scene and they will begin their work a little later today.”

    Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming investigation.

    Fire and ATF to conduct ‘thorough investigation’ into Louisville explosion

    It will be difficult to figure out exactly what happened Tuesday due to debris and damage spreading through surrounding neighborhoods. Officials did not specify a specific timeline for presenting the findings.

    “When you’re faced with a major explosion like this and such a large amount of destruction, it’s going to be difficult,” said Louisville Fire Chief Brian O’Neill.

    “Basically what you’re trying to do is reconstruct this as best you can, but I’m not going to sit here and guarantee that we can point to something and pinpoint something,” O’Neill said. he added. . “But again, these people are good at what they do and they will come up with some good answers.”

    Company representatives were invited to Wednesday’s press conference but did not attend. In the statement made by the company, it was stated that it intends to cooperate with researchers.

    “We are in the early stages of investigating the cause of this incident and are cooperating with first responders and support organizations,” the statement said. “We appreciate their heroic response and extend our thanks to those in the community who showed their support throughout the day.”

    in 2003 A similar explosion at the same facility shook Clifton and caused a cloud of ammonia to drift into the neighborhood. The entire federal investigation into this incident conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, launched 11 months later.

    When asked at the press conference if suspicious activity was possible, authorities said there was no evidence of foul play.

    “We do not have any reason to believe there is any nefarious activity at this time,” Morrow said. “But we still want to make sure we do a thorough investigation and we will find out.”

    Neighborhood residents advised not to remove explosion debris

    Debris and property damage could be important clues as investigators try to reconstruct the explosion. Officials asked residents to flag damage to MetroSafe, which is part of the Louisville emergency services agency.

    “Please do not remove any debris from your yard. Please do not touch the damage,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg.

    “We ask that you contact MetroSafe immediately. If you have debris in your yard or believe there is damage to your home, please contact us at (502) 574-2117,” he said.

    “Getting a full view of the wreckage will be incredibly helpful to all investigators as they piece together what happened yesterday.”

    Connor Giffin is the environmental reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at: [email protected] or at X @byconnorgiffin.

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