Officials release name of worker killed in explosion
Published 11:13 am Thursday, August 20, 2015
City of Bainbridge officials have released the name of the man killed in Wednesday morning’s explosion at Liquid Transfer Terminals.
Christopher Coker, 35, was the assistant manager at the plant in Bainbridge at was killed after a holding tank at Liquid Transfer Terminals exploded around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
According to Bainbridge Public Safety, the tank held a sodium hydrosulfide solution.
Four firefighters also required medical treatment from the intense heat, smoke and fumes from the chemicals. According to city officials, they were treated and released.
Bainbridge Public Safety, along with several Decatur County and surrounding area agencies, battled the flames for hours Wednesday afternoon until the fire was reported to be under control around 4 p.m., but officers and firefighter stayed on site until the fire was completely extinguished.
While officers and firefighters were on scene, businesses and homes in a half-mile radius of the blast, and traffic was routed away from the area.
Wednesday evening, residents were allowed back into the area to gather personal belongings before going to a motel for the night. Bainbridge members of the Salvation Army helped the displaced residents get rooms and provided meals, according to Public Safety.
Thursday morning, Terry Stillman with the Environmental Protection Agency gave approval for residents to return to their homes.
The cause of the explosion has yet to be released.