Storms May Hamper Cleanup for Florida Propane Plant Explosion

By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

July 30,2013; 8:41PM,EDT

 

 

 

John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said early Tuesday that there were no fatalities despite massive blasts that ripped through the Blue Rhino propane plant late Monday night. Seven people were injured and transported to local hospitals. (AP Photo/John Raoux
Showers and thunderstorms could hamper the cleanup effort at the Blue Rhino Propane plant that exploded around 10:30 p.m. on Monday night.
The plant caught fire, resulting in several blasts, while a night crew was working in the building. All workers could not be immediately accounted for late Monday night.
From 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., around the time the explosion was reported, conditions were dry with light winds and no apparent lightning strikes. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
As firefighters finish their jobs and cleanup gets underway, thunderstorms could push through the area of Tavares, Fla., near Orlando, this afternoon and evening.
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The activity will be spotty, but could unleash a quick downpour.
"Any thunderstorm could kick up the winds for a brief time in erratic directions," according to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Kristina Baker.
Wednesday brings a similar scenario with the potential for more downpours and activity than Tuesday.
Evacuations have been forced as far as half of a mile from the site and three people remain in critical condition, according to NBC news.