EDITORIAL FOR JUNE 10, 2005--FLAMES, QUESTIONS AT THE ARSENAL

Friday,  June 10, 2005 

When the military uses white phosphorous, it's supposed to burn and create that trademark thick, billowing white smoke. White phosphorous is not a friendly compound, rather it is a product made for a specific -- and important -- purpose.

Although perhaps best known as the home for 12 percent of America's stockpile of chemical weapons, the Pine Bluff Arsenal plays a vital role to U.S. troops as the lone producer of white phosphorous in the Western Hemisphere. These grenades, whether used to create a smokescreen for soldiers on the move or weapons with tremendous fiery effect, are crucial for training in peacetime as well as vital now, when our men and women in uniform are in harm's way.

That's part of the reason why Monday's spectacular fire at the Arsenal is a big deal.

Just after Sunday night became Monday morning, an Arsenal warehouse used to store containers of phosphorous erupted in flames. Officials estimated the building housed about 7,500 canisters and the resulting fire was huge. Firefighters could do little more than watch as the devilish blaze burned until it could burn no longer. That took some 17 hours to accomplish. The fire flared up again on Thursday.

Not surprisingly, the World War II-era warehouse was left in ruins.

And residents were wondering about potential effects of the massive plume of smoke that decorated the sky throughout most of Monday. The smoke is an irritant and could result in health problems should exposure be more than brief.

Another reason residents care about the fire is our friends and relatives work at the Arsenal. Happily, no injuries have been reported.

Brief and vague statements from the Arsenal did little to reassure neighbors of the facility about the clear safety threat posed if mistakes are made when phosphorous is being handled and stored.

Nevertheless, information about the fire and the Arsenal's phosphorous operation has been limited and given to the public in a trickle. Once more, when it comes to an incident at the Arsenal, the public is left with more questions than answers.