In what is nothing short of a miracle, there were no deaths or injuries when an explosion occurred at the Tacoma Pick N’ Pull earlier today. The explosion occurred in the area of junkyard and auto parts store where gasoline is drained from vehicles entering the yard, which sits on the other side of the fence from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord airfield. As a gasoline vendor was draining one of the storage tanks (something that is normal and common), the tank behind the one he was working on exploded, launching the vendor sixty feet away. He was uninjured and was able to move the fuel truck away from the fire.
Officials closed off SW 112th Street between South Tacoma Way and Steele Street while firefighters worked to contain the fire. The plume of smoke could easily be seen from Interstate 5 and State Route 512, and caused problems for evening traffic.
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Photo: KIRO TV 7 (Seattle)
(Information courtesy of Q13 Fox (Seattle). Lead photo courtesy Q13. Thanks to Fred Timmons for the tip!)
In other news, the smell of burning cars gave Tacoma a much better smell on Friday.
the sign advertising the Pompeii exhibit is especially delightful too.