WAKE, Texas — An EMS chief living near the scene of the explosion at a fertilizer plant that flattened much of a small Texas town Wednesday compared it to an atom bomb.
Speaking to CNN in the aftermath of the blast, West EMS Director Dr. George Smith said six firefighters and two paramedics were believed dead. However, the number has not been confirmed with search and rescue efforts continuing at the scene throughout the day.
“There was a major, major explosion,” said Smith. “The windows came in on me, the roof, the ceiling came in. It’s just overwhelming for us for a town of 2,400 and we only have three ambulances.”
Smith told CNN there was no way to communicate with his EMS personnel after the explosion as their radios weren’t working.
“There are literally hundreds of people hurt and I’m very worried about my ambulances on scene, because those personnel are probably deceased,” Smith said, comparing the blast to an atom bomb.
“I’m worried about the people trapped in houses, the EMS personnel. We had a class going on and so we had 18 people in the class trying to help running in that direction. I have no idea how many EMS people might be hurt.”