West Fertilizer Explosion Structural Damage and Source Energy
By: Ben F. Harrison IV, P.E., Technical Director, ABS Group, 140 Heimer Rd., Suite 300, San
Antonio, TX, 78232, USA.
Abstract
On April 17, 2013, a fire and explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer facility which resulted in
the deaths of twelve first responders and three members of the public, injuries to more than two
hundred people, and extensive damage to the facility, surrounding homes, and community
facilities. West Fertilizer was a fertilizer storage and distribution facility located in the town of
West, TX. The source of the explosion was firmly established prior to ABS Group’s arrival on
site of West Fertilizer as a catastrophic explosion of Ammonium Nitrate within the Production
Building. The explosion projected many pieces of the Process Building and a substantial amount
of crater ejecta. The explosion also generated a blast wave that swept across the surrounding area
causing significant structural damage to homes and community structures. ABS Group was
contracted by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) to perform a site survey, collect data
pertaining to structural damage and to perform analysis to develop an estimate of the explosion
severity and resulting overpressure and impulse contours. This presentation will provide a brief
summary of the methodology utilized to determine the explosion energy in pounds of TNT and
discuss the observed damage to the community of West, TX from the April 17, 2013 explosion.
1 Introduction
On April 17, 2013, a fire and explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer storage and distribution
facility in West, Texas, which resulted in 15 deaths, injuries to more than 200 people, and
extensive damage to the facility, surrounding homes, and community facilities [
]. The explosion
occurred at approximately 7:51 pm, 22 minutes after being reported to local authorities [i].
The fire and explosion were investigated by the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board (CSB) [i]. ABS Group was contracted by the CSB to perform a site survey,
collect data pertaining to structural damage, and perform an analysis to develop an estimate of
the explosion severity and resulting overpressure and impulse contours [
].
2 Background
The town of West is located approximately 20 miles north of Waco, Texas, on Interstate 35. A
United States Geological Survey (USGS) map of West is shown in Figure 1. The West Fertilizer
Co. site is highlighted in yellow and prominent community structures are noted, including West
Intermediate School, West High School, West Middle School, the local nursing home, an
apartment complex, and a community playground. Photographs of the West Fertilizer Co. site
before and after the event with key features of the West Fertilizer Co. property labeled are
provided for reference in Figure 2.
