Garland Explosion: Sherwin Williams Facility Rocked, Broader Implications Loom

Early this morning, the calm of Garland, Texas, was shattered as an explosion rocked the Sherwin Williams paint facility located on Shiloh Road, east of Dallas.

[{"selector":"#anim-a4955d36-86ea-4979-a9e9-57608f05beff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.521687591103166%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c326c5d-2946-4bf9-a1a9-b0a256c9ff78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

A worker from the facility suffered injuries and was promptly treated on-site before being transported to the hospital.

[{"selector":"#anim-79850d77-ad35-4fe4-b42b-d29b4c4114e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.412620672942396%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09ebf3dd-9d0f-4342-996f-f690fa9fcb39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

Dave Casper, an employee of neighboring business Aston Global, shared a firsthand account of the event.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f39d53b-328a-44fe-92d5-939df6d1819e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.459763919639762%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1211dea-221f-4cf9-bd91-588eb1eb86ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

With a mere 50-foot fence separating the two establishments, the proximity of the explosion was palpable.

[{"selector":"#anim-1b3c421f-743e-4d1e-8fb5-aa1835ee21e1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.24491996136618%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-724ef660-c73b-4f82-abf7-d82b205d7ad6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

Several businesses, and even the Garland police headquarters, felt the shockwaves from miles away.

[{"selector":"#anim-3620e4e7-7192-4de8-9eef-0624b8fd0bd8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-53.88202431679363%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeaa9932-f1f2-4d77-88e5-8e7e58cc69a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

The explosion has instilled fears in the community regarding air quality.

[{"selector":"#anim-83dc8d04-25e8-4e72-aae8-56356d55bcf7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.24491996136618%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fe5c32e-fb61-47cc-93c8-772ca8d7bdd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google

With chemicals involved in the blaze, residents, like Jim Norris, are adopting precautions.

[{"selector":"#anim-fc2ae39d-41db-4988-9eca-c1b0ff423f7a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.768357683839312%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e54f7ff8-1cc7-4631-b706-dc35f8454e8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source- Google