Propane truck reported stolen tonight 10:00pm on KTBW (Washington State)

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Just heard on the news just now, that a big Propane truck (like they use to delivery L/P to homeowners and businesses) was just stolen somewhere here in Washington State. Hmmmmmm. Interesting way to stock up for Y2k.

-- (formerly known as nobody@nowhere.aaa), November 30, 1999

Answers

I do not advocate this "entitlement mentality" style of y2k preps acquisition. I suggest we all *buy* our preps.

-- (nobody@nowhere.aaa), November 30, 1999.

Darn hope this don't start a trend.

-- wacko (gonewackie@aol.com), November 30, 1999.

Like the windmill thieves?

-- by hook or crook (siphon@lock.nostop), November 30, 1999.

A preping Perpetraitor plucked and plundered a parked propane truck. Police are perplexed and not pleased.

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), November 30, 1999.

Actually, it was stolen early this afternoon in Tacoma and the concern is that it may be used tomorrow during the WTO demonstrations in downtown Seattle. "Authorities are well aware of what 2000 gallons of propane could do if it were to be set off on a downtown street." Terrorism at it's finest...

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.xnet), November 30, 1999.


Yes, indeed ..... the terrorists will be completely inconspicuous driving up I-5 to Seattle in their 10,000 gal. propane tanker with all the HAZMAT 1025 cards. I agree that this is more likely a Y2k heist. You'd have to secret this thing VERY off-road.

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-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), November 30, 1999.


Actually, propane is kinda hard to get to explode. It would be much easier and more effective to have hijacked a gasoline filled truck.

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), November 30, 1999.


10,000 gallons? Wow.

24 hours is plenty of time to repaint or even reconfigure the way a truck looks in order to use it for a terrorist mission. I'm not saying it's likely but it is interesting.

Also, the goal of terrorism isn't to inflict a massive amount of death and pain it is to create a climate of terror. This truck could be driven up to an office building in an area around Seattle and then blown up. That would create a bit of fear not only in Seattle but certainly throughout the entire country.

Just IMO, of course.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), November 30, 1999.


If you apply heat to Propane in a sealed container it could cause a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion).

One example of a BLEVE is when a freight train derails and a subsequent fire heats up a tank car containing a flammable such as propane.

The resultant pressure in the tank causes it to rupture and the propane which is in liquid form converts instantly to a gas which explodes.

The recommended evacuation zone is 800' in all directions as this is the estimated distance projectiles could reach.

I once saw a movie of the aftermath of one of these explosions and the only remains of a firefighter who was too close were stains on the pavement. They were from the rivets of his turnout gear as he had vaporised.

I hope they find the truck soon.

-- Sparky (Captain@Rescue.One), November 30, 1999.


I bet that truck is hidden in a barn and doesn't turn up until sometime next year.

-- (nobody@nowhere.zzz), November 30, 1999.


See recent terrorism alert.

http://www.emergency.com/1999/terr1199.htm

-- (duck@nd.cover), November 30, 1999.


For those of you unaware (or never having read a mystery/thriller/ action book on terrorism), I-5, one of the most congested stretches of the interstate system, runs directly under the Seattle Convention Center, where the WTO is meeting today. No wonder authorities are worried about a stolen truck full of propane.

-- James (jpeet@u.washington.edu), November 30, 1999.

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