{"id":8781,"date":"2025-04-06T20:28:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T00:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/?p=8781"},"modified":"2026-11-02T16:11:22","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T21:11:22","slug":"radiator-specialty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/radiator-specialty\/","title":{"rendered":"Radiator Specialty Company Explosion – November 26, 1980"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a blog version of a Facebook posting<\/a> from April 6, 2025. The content was expanded on October 30, 2026.<\/p>\n

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Looking back at the Radiator Specialty Company explosion and fire in Indian Springs, NC, in Union County, on November 26, 1980.<\/p>\n

Was a Wednesday morning. The plant was located off US 74, about four miles from the Mecklenburg County line. The company dated to 1924, originating in Charlotte. The plan opened in 1972.<\/p>\n

The facility included the main building, a one-story brick structure with 300,000 square-feet, plus bulk propane storage tanks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

About 150 workers were inside. And, that day, they were to have meal celebrating Thanksgiving.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also, on September 30, the plant had suffered an explosion that injured two people. Subsequently, employees had been told by company officials to ignore the alarms that sounded for gas leaks. And those alarms had been sounding frequently, for several weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That morning, around 8:00 a.m., six workers later said they heard at least one gas alarm go off. And when they asked their supervisors if they should leave the building, they were told to stay in the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One hour later, just after 9:00 a.m., an explosion occurred. The blast was felt up to ten miles away. It was the first in a chain of four explosions.<\/p>\n

It was later learned that the explosion was caused by an apparent electrical short from a measuring scale on an assembly line. At the same time, there was a gas leak inside the plant. The spark from the short ignited the concentrated fumes.<\/p>\n

Many workers ran from the building with their clothes and hair on fire.<\/p>\n

Flames Through The Roof<\/strong><\/p>\n

The multi-agency response included Indian Trail, Bakers, Hemby Bridge, Unionville, Stallings, and Wesley Chapel fire departments, along with rescue units from both Union and Mecklenburg counites.<\/p>\n

At least 20 tanker fire trucks–more likely, 20 pumpers or tankers–and 75 fire and rescue personnel responded to the alarm. Indian Trail, Bakers, Hemby Bridge, Unionville, Stallings, and Wesley Chapel fire departments responded, along with rescue units from both Union and Mecklenburg counties.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stallings Assistant Fire Chief Rick Squires was one of the first firefighters to arrive at the plant, a one-story brick building with 300,000 square feet. He found flames coming from the roof and through the door. There were also 75 to 100 people running from the building.<\/p>\n

Though flames spread rapidly through the building, they were quickly extinguished after firefighters arrived. The heavy smoke, however, hampered efforts by rescuers to search the rubble for injured workers.<\/p>\n

Some of the firefighters entered the building without breathing apparatus and were later treated for smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n

Some Victims Airlifted<\/strong><\/p>\n

The explosion and fire injured 56 people, and killed two, including five with critical injuries who were airlifted to burn units in Charleston and Chapel Hill. The receiving facilities were:<\/p>\n