Did firefighters make West, Texas, fertilizer plant fire worse?

http://twitter.com/#!/brandondarby/status/324767667988877312

Breitbart.com’s Brandon Darby is in West, Texas, after a fertilizer plant explosion yesterday evening.

According to Darby, first responders sprayed water on the fire, likely making the fire worse.

I did use facts. That’s the error they made. Explosion likely would’ve occurred anyways, but they used water. @pumpjacksally

— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) April 18, 2013

A flight medic on the scene. Now you’re both blocked. “RT @featherchick @brandondarby @pumpjacksally Cite sourcewho told you used water?”

— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) April 18, 2013

The first responders were likely volunteers and did not know to use avoid water on plant. @researchagain

— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) April 18, 2013

As far as we know, this still hasn’t been confirmed by local officials, but others are hearing the same thing:

“It was a small fire and then water got sprayed on the ammonium nitrate, and it exploded just like the Oklahoma City bomb,” said Jason Shelton, a clerk at the Czech Best Western Hotel in West.

@brandondarby @pumpjacksally ya they were talking abt it on news. They are all volunteers there so prob didn’t know it was not good 2 do

— Steel City Patriot (@krysia24) April 18, 2013

There are reports that firefighters attempted to control the blaze of an ammonia tanker with water. This would have caused the explosion.

— Betsy Ross (@DoHoBOB) April 18, 2013

@_boyzinblue it was a fire that firefighters were putting out and water was sprayed with ammonia nitrate…

— Casie Villarreal (@CasieeRose) April 18, 2013

According to CDC, one should never direct water straight at anhydrous ammonia cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/E… #westexplosion

— Tina Ho (@tina_ho) April 18, 2013

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2013/04/18/did-firefighters-make-west-texas-fertilizer-plant-fire-worse/