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So they deliberately ignited it? Knowing vinyl chloride when burned releases hydrogen chloride, a chemical weapon?

shadowgovt 4y ago
Yes, because the alternative was that it would ignite on its own time, eventually, and release it when the area wasn't evacuated. Controlled burn of volatiles is one of the tools in a firefighter's toolbelt for dealing with a HAZMAT situation.
- m348e912 4y ago
  Good summary here: https://twitter.com/RaleighFam/status/1622948184476483585 https://twitter.com/RaleighFam/status/1622948184476483585 Fair point that it may explode anyway.
  - shadowgovt 4y ago
    This is a good summary of the situation. One thing the speaker left out is that hydrochloric acid is heavier than air, so while the reaction does result in a bunch of hydrochloric acid, it should react with things in the local environment very quickly to make a hot mess of the immediate environment but not to spread out into the larger ecosystem.
    - paulmd 4y ago
      Honestly that's the type of data that would help calm the situation a bit. Five cars of vinyl chloride, three cars of diethylene glycol, and two cars of oil are the problem children at this point. At least the quantities involved aren't too large, it wasn't a whole train of vinyl chloride. Still preventable though and things aren't getting any safer from here if the railroads have anything to say about it. And the local wildlife getting sick is still concerning... if the measurements say everything is fine and the local wildlife is dying, you aren't measuring what needs to be measured.
  - neogodless 4y ago
    Original source for that video: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickdrom/video/7199529468317142318 https://www.tiktok.com/@nickdrom/video/7199529468317142318
refurb 4y ago
Hydrogen chloride is not a chemical weapon.
- marcusverus 4y ago
  > Primary forms of chemical weapons include nerve agents, blister agents, choking agents, and blood agents... Blood agents interfere with the body’s ability to use and transfer oxygen through the bloodstream. Blood agents are generally inhaled and then absorbed into the bloodstream. Common forms of blood agents include Hydrogen Chloride and Cyanogen Chloride. https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Chemical-Weapons-Frequently-Asked-Questions https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Chemical-Weapons-Freq...
  - refurb 4y ago
    Wow, that's really inaccurate! Hydrogen chloride does not interfere with transporting oxygen. I think someone made a typo and mean hydrogen cyanide (cyanogen chloride does interfere with oxygen transport). Hydrogen chloride is found in pool chemicals, toilet bowl cleaner. Pretty sure we don't use chemical weapons to clean our toilets.

Yes, because the alternative was that it would ignite on its own time, eventually, and release it when the area wasn't evacuated. Controlled burn of volatiles is one of the tools in a firefighter's toolbelt for dealing with a HAZMAT situation.

m348e912 4y ago
Good summary here: https://twitter.com/RaleighFam/status/1622948184476483585 https://twitter.com/RaleighFam/status/1622948184476483585 Fair point that it may explode anyway.
- shadowgovt 4y ago
  This is a good summary of the situation. One thing the speaker left out is that hydrochloric acid is heavier than air, so while the reaction does result in a bunch of hydrochloric acid, it should react with things in the local environment very quickly to make a hot mess of the immediate environment but not to spread out into the larger ecosystem.
  - paulmd 4y ago
    Honestly that's the type of data that would help calm the situation a bit. Five cars of vinyl chloride, three cars of diethylene glycol, and two cars of oil are the problem children at this point. At least the quantities involved aren't too large, it wasn't a whole train of vinyl chloride. Still preventable though and things aren't getting any safer from here if the railroads have anything to say about it. And the local wildlife getting sick is still concerning... if the measurements say everything is fine and the local wildlife is dying, you aren't measuring what needs to be measured.
- neogodless 4y ago
  Original source for that video: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickdrom/video/7199529468317142318 https://www.tiktok.com/@nickdrom/video/7199529468317142318

refurb 4y ago

Hydrogen chloride is not a chemical weapon.

marcusverus 4y ago
> Primary forms of chemical weapons include nerve agents, blister agents, choking agents, and blood agents... Blood agents interfere with the body’s ability to use and transfer oxygen through the bloodstream. Blood agents are generally inhaled and then absorbed into the bloodstream. Common forms of blood agents include Hydrogen Chloride and Cyanogen Chloride. https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Chemical-Weapons-Frequently-Asked-Questions https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Chemical-Weapons-Freq...
- refurb 4y ago
  Wow, that's really inaccurate! Hydrogen chloride does not interfere with transporting oxygen. I think someone made a typo and mean hydrogen cyanide (cyanogen chloride does interfere with oxygen transport). Hydrogen chloride is found in pool chemicals, toilet bowl cleaner. Pretty sure we don't use chemical weapons to clean our toilets.