What caused the 1937 New London School explosion?

In March 1937 a gas leak in the basement of the 1,200-student Consolidated School in New London caused a massive explosion that killed almost 300 children and teachers. In a grim irony, the blast was caused by a petroleum product that had greatly enriched the small town just east of Tyler.

What happened in New London Texas?

The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion, destroying the London School of New London, Texas, a community in Rusk County previously known as “London”. The disaster killed more than 295 students and teachers.

When was the New London explosion?

March 18, 1937
New London School explosion/Start dates

On March 18, 1937, the combined junior-senior high school in the small East Texas town of New London exploded without warning, killing nearly half of the students and teachers.

How many people survived the New London explosion?

130 students
The Texas Funeral Directors sent twenty-five embalmers. Of the 500 students and forty teachers in the building, approximately 294 died. Some rescuers, students, and teachers needed psychiatric attention, and only about 130 students escaped serious injury.

Can natural gas explode?

A gas explosion occurs when there is a gas leak in the presence of a spark or flame. Gases such as natural gas, methane, propane and butane are the most common types of gases to cause explosions because they are commonly used for heating purposes. Gas appliances that have been poorly or incorrectly installed.

How can I prevent gas explosions in my house?

Maintain and monitor gas detection equipment on a regular basis. Make sure the batteries are working. It is also wise to have your gas detectors periodically checked by professionals. To reduce the chance of fire, keep all combustible materials away from water heaters, furnaces or other gas appliances.

Is London on Texas?

London is an unincorporated community in northeast Kimble County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 180 in 2000.

Does gas have a natural smell?

Natural gas has no odor. Gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell. All natural gas and propane pipeline gas in Connecticut is odorized. If you smell gas near an appliance, it may be just a pilot light that has gone out or a burner valve that is open slightly.

How many houses explode from gas leaks?

An estimated average of 4,200 home structure fires per year started with the ignition of natural gas. These fires caused an average of 40 deaths per year.

At what ppm can you smell natural gas?

The gas has a smell at an odor threshold of 1 ppb, and OSHA has a Permissible Exposure Limit for mercaptan of 10 ppm. See more in the FAQ in About Gas Odorization.

How often do houses explode from gas leaks?

Across the U.S. there are about 286 serious natural gas explosions per year—the type that cause over $50,000 worth of damage, severe injury, or loss of life. Between 1998 and 2017, 15 people per year on average died in incidents related to gas distribution in the U.S.

Where was the natural gas explosion in Texas?

First-aid stations were established in the nearby towns of Tyler, Overton, Kilgore and Henderson to tend to the wounded. Reportedly, a blackboard at the destroyed school was found that read, Oil and natural gas are East Texas’ greatest natural gifts.

Where was the school explosion in Texas in 1937?

Nearly 300 students in Texas are killed by an explosion of natural gas at their school on March 18, 1937. The Consolidated School of New London, Texas, sat in the middle of a large oil and natural gas field. The area was dominated by 10,000 oil derricks, 11 of which stood right on school grounds.

When did the East Ohio gas explosion happen?

At 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Friday, October 20, 1944, the cylindrical above-ground storage tank number 4, holding liquefied natural gas in the East Ohio Gas Company’s tank farm, began to emit a vapor that poured from a seam on the side of the tank.

Why was natural gas used in New London School explosion?

Early in 1937, the school board canceled their natural gas contract and had plumbers install a tap into Parade Gasoline Company’s residue gas line to save money. This practice—while not explicitly authorized by local oil companies—was widespread in the area. The natural gas extracted with the oil was considered a waste product and was flared off.