Firefighters respond to explosion at facility in North Charleston
North Charleston firefighters have responded to an explosion at MWV Specialty Chemicals on Virginia Avenue.
A 250,000 gallon tank of Tall oil ruptured in the facility, North Charleston Fire Department spokeswoman Bianca Sancic said. Firefighters from the facility, North Charleston, Charleston and St. Andrews fire departments are on the scene but haven’t encountered flames, she said.
A DHEC representative is on scene to help limit the risk of fire as crews cleanup.
The rupture occurred about 10 a.m. at the top of a storage tank containing crude tall oil, a by-product of pine trees, according to company spokeswoman Stephanie Mangin.
None of the material was released, but one person has been taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure, Mangin said.
The cause of the breach is under investigation. The incident poses no risk to the outside community, Mangin said.
We will continue to update this story as details are available.
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