Monday, 16 February 2026

Fertilizer Plant Explosion MAYOR：＂A Lot Of People Wont Be Here Tomorrow＂ [Ft5kLATY5zE]

A massive chemical explosion in West Texas levels a five-block radius and leaves local volunteer firefighters missing as toxic plumes threaten the surrounding region.

West Texas explosion Tommy Muska Anhydrous ammonia Abbott School Hazmat response West Fire Department

By Mike Hanson Archives | 6m listen | 3 chapters

RSS Transcript

Fertilizer Plant Explosion MAYOR：＂A Lot Of People Wont Be Here Tomorrow＂ [Ft5kLATY5zE] cover

About this episode

Mayor Tommy Muska confirms a catastrophic explosion at the West Fertilizer Plant following a massive structural fire that leveled a five-block radius in West, Texas. The blast occurred between 6:30 and 7:00 PM, destroying nearby homes and leaving five to six volunteer firefighters from the West Fire Department unaccounted for. Muska, who narrowly escaped the blast while responding to the initial blaze, warns that the scale of destruction suggests a significant loss of life across the community.

Emergency responders from Waco and surrounding jurisdictions are currently managing a hazardous materials crisis involving anhydrous ammonia plumes drifting north from the facility. Displaced residents have been relocated to an evacuation center at Abbott School while search and rescue teams conduct door-to-door sweeps for survivors. NBC 5 reporter Ben Russell reports that shifting winds are carrying potentially toxic smoke toward residential areas, prompting immediate shelter-in-place orders for those north of the chemical plant. The local volunteer fire department may have lost the majority of its active personnel in the initial detonation.

Mayor Tommy Muska declined to provide specific casualty counts during the ongoing rescue operation but noted that many neighbors will be missing by morning. The town of West faces its most devastating historical event as officials prioritize hazmat containment and community prayer. Ben Russell notes that while regional emergency resources are currently sufficient, the long-term recovery for the impacted five-block zone remains uncertain.

CHAPTER 01 / 3 Discussion

Mayor Tommy Muska Reports on West Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Mayor Tommy Muska confirms a massive explosion at the West Fertilizer Plant following an initial fire that fully engulfed the facility. The blast occurred between 6:30 and 7:00 PM, impacting a five-block radius and causing severe structural damage to nearby homes. Muska reports that five to six volunteer firefighters from the West Fire Department are currently unaccounted for. Emergency responders from Waco and surrounding areas are managing hazmat concerns regarding anhydrous ammonia drifting north from the site.

tommy muska· west fertilizer plant· waco· anhydrous ammonia· texas explosion

00:00 I don't have any information on casualties right now. Mayor Mushka, we understand there may have been a fire reported at the plant prior to the explosion? Yes, the plant was on fire prior to the explosion it was pretty fully engulfed when i arrived and then it blew up so yes Who is working on the fire at the time of the explosion? West. The town of Westfire? Westfire Department. Volunteer Fire Department? How many folks did y'all have out here? 5 or 6. You said that happened around 630? 630 to 7 o'clock, not sure exactly what time. Are all those guys accounted for? Not at this time

00:37 When we arrived and we were driving around the area, we saw multiple fires just scattered all over homes barns. Do you have any idea of how many homes? No that radius is I don't know the number of home it's about a five block radio so i will know more tomorrow. Are we talking destroyed or there are the winds are blown out the you know shattered I went by my house and it's pretty much a mess. No doors, no windows...I got the roof I guess so but that's the immaterial stuff we've got to look for our people first and then we can build these houses back.

01:19 Wind is blowing from the north and it's, or from the south right now. It's going to change about three o'clock and that's when we're gonna have to possibly look at situation then but I think it should be all under control at least that part ammonia by 3 o'clock. From how far away are you ever responding? We've had people from Waco and all over. I can't even tell ya the number. But we've had a lot and we've actually had some that would just turn away because we have enough to do what we need to do." What was the first thing that went through your mind when you felt it or heard that? What did it feel like for you?" It just blew my hat off, then I heard it. I felt before I heard it." You mean literally?" Yes. And then it blew

02:04 uh, river mirror off my glass. So it was a very powerful explosion. How about toxic gas? Well that's what we're looking at. We know that's what we have hazmat there for and so let's... That was the big concern and hazmat out of Waco is taking care of that. So that's under control. And hydrous ammonia? Is that where we're fearful of here? Well right now it says it's in the air but yeah but it's drifting out and those people are being evacuated. Mayor, will they make it back to land? fertilizer. I've been living here all my life and been mayor for two years

02:45 To repeat, Mayor for folks who may be just joining us. The most important thing you want people to know right now if you live in this area? If you don't live in this area what would you tell people and say stay inside because of the gas they inside tonight will see what happens tomorrow but everything should be under control those people on the north side of town that disaffected they are going to have it so if you have anybody that you're concerned about you can contact them at the Abbott school. No, not the whole town. Just that five block radius. Okay? Thank you.

CHAPTER 02 / 3 Discussion

Casualties and Emergency Response in West Texas

Emergency officials have established an evacuation center at Abbott School for residents displaced by the West Fertilizer Plant explosion. Mayor Tommy Muska, who was nearly struck by the blast while responding as a firefighter, indicates that search and rescue teams are conducting door-to-door sweeps for survivors and the deceased. Preliminary reports suggest a significant loss of life, with the mayor stating that many residents will not be present the following day. The local volunteer fire department may have lost a majority of its active personnel in the initial blast.

west texas· search and rescue· abbott school· first responders· casualty report

03:28 All right, once again you've been watching a live news conference with Tommy Muska. He is the mayor of the community of West. We got a lot of new information from the mayor here apparently a five to six block area very heavily damaged people in that area of town being evacuated tonight to the Abbott school The mayor made a comment that I'm I'm sure made everybody take pause. He said, a lot of people will not be here tomorrow. Yeah Brian i wrote that down he said it was a cut across their hearts right um and he is asking for everybody's prayers tonight we learned more about the sequence of events about how this happened the mayor told us at about 6 30 7 o'clock earlier this evening the fertilizer plant was on fire he described it as

04:18 as being fully engulfed. The mayor is also a firefighter, he said he was about a block away and he was headed there to help fight this fire when the explosion happened it was so powerful it blew his helmet off not only his helmet it blew the mirror off of his rear view mirror off of his car and he mentioned west in these towns you have to remember that fire departments are not very big they had five to six firefighters at that plant working this fire when that explosion happened. That could very well be the majority. of their fire department and right now those firefighters for the most part are not accounted for. He said right now they're going door to door, this is what they're doing right now they're number one goal going door-to-door looking for survivors and the deceased NBC5's Ben Russell you were at that press conference we heard you asking him some great questions so kind of recap the new information that we just learned Ben

CHAPTER 03 / 3 Discussion

Air Quality Warnings and Community Prayer Requests

NBC 5 reporter Ben Russell provides a recap of public safety instructions following the chemical explosion in West, Texas. Residents north of the West Chemical Plant are advised to stay indoors due to shifting winds carrying potentially toxic smoke and chemicals. While emergency resources are currently sufficient, Mayor Tommy Muska has declined to provide specific casualty numbers until they are verified, instead calling for prayers for the community. The event is described as the most devastating incident in the town's history.

ben russell· air quality· hazmat· west chemical plant· public safety

05:13 I would say as far as the new information we just got from Mayor Tommy Muska, the mayor of West who is still here in the room. We're still in the area where this happened perhaps right off at the bat he's telling folks who live north North of this West chemical plant fertilizer plant to stay inside they are concerned about air quality but I want to be clear that made it very clear that they're just specifically talking about people north. That's because that's the way the air is blowing, if you live to the west or east perhaps if you feel your in a danger zone stay inside or leave the area but right now their main concern wind that could carry chem this fire going. He tells control right now, that's what else did we find as point? He said they want t is accounted for and the take some time he would n comment as to the number

06:04 or perhaps killed in this situation. I believe he wants to be very accurate in those terms, so at this point he's not willing to make a call as to what exactly is going on here when asked what people need in this area? He says there is plenty of help already in place. He said it very frankly, what people need right now is prayers. He said this is the worst thing that has ever happened to this town. A lot of people are hurt and there may be a lot of people not here tomorrow. So they need prayers and the help though is here and perhaps there's even still more on the way. Amanda All right, Ben. I think Brian you had a question