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Chemical explosion kills Cache teen
Lawton_Authorities are investigating an explosion that killed a Cache teen. 19 year old Caleb Adams died early Thursday morning as a result of the explosion that occurred at Enterprise Rent-A-Car on West Cache Road. The blast happened around 2pm Wednesday where Adams was in charge of detailing the cars as they came to the business. Investigators say chemicals Adams was working with is what caused the small explosion.
Investigators are looking into just how the chemicals could have caused the explosion. It may have occurred for a number of reasons, but what authorities say is that there were a number of chemicals stored within a small space. They say the vapors built up - but, what they're trying to determine is what ignited them.
"We do believe it was an accident," says Fire Marshall Mark Mitchell. "There was some flammable cleaning products involved - terrible tragedy." The site of the explosion doesn't appear terribly damaged. It didn't look like there was much of a fire at all. But, Adams was right in the middle of it. Witnesses say they heard the impact and saw Adams running out in a ball of fire.
"We heard some screams, so we walked over and seen the Enterprise building was on fire - immediately on fire. There was no smoke or nothing," said Ross Wallace. Mitchell says Adams came out of the detailing storage room on fire. He went to the front office for help and two female employees put the flames out with a fire extinguisher.
Mitchell says the flammable chemicals inside were either spilled or had vaporized causing ripe conditions for ignition. They're still trying to determine what ignited the dangerous chemical mix. He also says that although witnesses describe what happened as an explosion, it's more of a flash fire. In this case a rapid rush of air in or exhaust out can appear to be an explosion.
Investigators say it may take some time before they know what ignited the fire. 7News will let you know what we find out.
Re: Kid Killed in Detail Shop Explosion -
11-13-2007, 11:36 AM
I wonder what he was using? Unless he was storing things like lacquer thinner or the likes of that...I can't imagine waxes and polishes being flammable
Re: Kid Killed in Detail Shop Explosion -
11-13-2007, 11:51 AM
that is a horrible story chemicals should be stored in a cool , well ventilated place as well as used in a ventilated place ...so everyone detailing in their garage this winter, please leave a little window or door open for fresh air
That is tragic to say the least. I agree I cannot see how polishes and or waxes could have caused it, and what caused it to ignite?
Good idea about ventilating your products even if not for the dangers of explosion but for the vapors some of those products cause.
I like beer. On occasion I will even drink a beer to celebrate a major event such as the fall of communism or the fact that our refrigerator is still working.
Steve! That's how we heat the house.We use The Whaler's natural gas
If thats the case I would move them to a tree in the backyard somewhere.
I like beer. On occasion I will even drink a beer to celebrate a major event such as the fall of communism or the fact that our refrigerator is still working.
It must be lacquer thinner. Or gasoline perhaps. The phrase "detailing closet" is a scary sounding thing. Perhaps there was a punture in an aeresol near another solvent or thinner.
We keep everything flammable in the open and away from other combustibles.
This is why I keep my meth lab seperate from my detailing supplies. Some of those products are dangerous. Actually, one of the products I was using recently stated that it wasn't flamable, but it was combustible. There are all sorts of dangers lurking in our garages and shops.
~ ~ www.OCDetails.com ~ ~
Faster isn't better. BETTER is better no matter how long it takes.
My nephew was severly burned in a similar explosion at the shop he was working in not too long ago. This is gonna sound dumb but he was cutting an empty gas tank off an old car with a blow torch and it blew up in his face. He had a heavy jacket on that caught fire and it burned him so badly they weren't sure if he would live. He was in intensive care for weeks.
Other than some bad scars, he is fine now. Unfortunately that one mistake will scar him for the rest of his life.
chemicals should be stored in a cool , well ventilated place as well as used in a ventilated place ...so everyone detailing in their garage this winter, please leave a little window or door open for fresh air 
Troy Armstrong
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