Blue Rhino Propane Factory Explosion Florida - July 29/2013

All 15 workers briefly reported missing in explosions that rocked a propane tank servicing plant in central Florida late on Monday have turned up safe, a spokesman for the local sheriff's office said.

At least seven other workers were injured by the fiery blasts, which began at about 10:30 p.m. local time at the Blue Rhino propane gas filling station in the town of Tavares, about 64 kilometres northwest of Orlando, said John Herrell, Lake County sheriff's spokesman.

He said the 15 workers who initially were reported by the plant manager to be unaccounted for had merely "scattered" when the explosions began and have since been contacted and they "are OK."

Homeowners who live miles away told local media they could feel the multiple explosions that shook the area every couple of minutes and sent tall columns of flame into the night sky.

Aerial views of the facility from footage shot by a local television station about 90 minutes after the first explosions showed what appeared to be a large fire, possibly fed by continuing explosions, surrounded by smaller blazes.

After another 30 minutes, the main fire appeared to be dying down. The wreckage of what appeared to be burned-out trucks could be seen.

Speaking by telephone to local NBC affiliate WESH-TV, former plant supervisor Don Ingram said the company takes in propane tanks used for home gas grills, clean them, checks the valves and refills them. He said that tanks were stacked on plastic pallets four and five high behind the filling station.

He said a late crew typically refills 4,000 to 5,000 tanks overnight. The nearest residential neighbourhood is located about half a kilometre from the facility behind a row of trees, Ingram said.