Bridgeport explosion ‘rocked’ city, tighter regs possible, Ganim says

BRIDGEPORT — While city and state officials are still seeking answers about an explosion that occurred Friday Mayor Joe Ganim is calling for regulation reform on certain types of facilities near residential areas.

And though investigators said they don’t believe a criminal act prompted the incidents, it could take weeks or months to determine exactly what did happen at Tradebe Environmental Services on Cross Street.

“We want to know the cause [of the explosion],” Ganim said Sunday at a noon press conference at the site. “We want to know exactly what happened and ensure it never happens again.”

Company officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment Sunday. In an emailed statement Friday, Tradebe spokesperson Richard Bamberger said the company was cooperating in the investigation and sending prayers to the three people who were injured. Two of the injured were released from the hospital Friday night, city officials said.

Sergeant Paul Makuk, with Connecticut State Police’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, said the explosion was likely not an intentionally criminal act, but that investigators were still identifying and speaking with witnesses and waiting to analyze samples from the scene. 

Makuk said “it’s too soon to tell” if negligence was a factor.

“We’re certainly looking at everything,” he said, noting the timing of the incident before a three-day weekend made it difficult to get samples from the scene analyzed yet. “We have a lot of information that’s yet to be revealed.”

A spokesperson for the DEEP, Paul Copleman, said the explosion likely occurred when the tractor-trailer carrying the oxidizer began to transfer it to a tank at the site. Copleman also said water runoff in the area was being closely monitored, but drinking water supplies were not affected.

Officials said the company had no history of any wrongdoing or enforcement action taken against it locally. Makuk and Appleby said that Tradebe officials had been cooperative since the incident.

Ganim said he wasn’t trying to cast aspersions on the company, “but this happened, and it happened on their site.”

“With no disrespect to the company, we’re not happy,” he said. “This is unacceptable.”

The mayor said he planned to meet with company officials to discuss what could be done to prevent future incidents.

“The explosion was terrifying, it rocked the city. It continues to rock us in the aftermath not knowing what caused it,” Ganim said.

Ganim also questioned whether regulations should be modified, especially at facilities that border residential areas. He said city officials have identified at least six such possible sites.

“The bottom line is we should all be more aware,” Ganim said.

Appleby said the city was urging residents to refrain from fishing in nearby brooks due to high PH levels. Elizabeth Rivera-Rodriguez, the city’s director of health and social services, said the city would continue to monitor air and water quality in the area.

Fire Chief Lance Edwards credited firefighters with bringing the incident under control within about an hour and 20 minutes, and thanked departments from Stratford, Milford, Fairfield, Norwalk, and Westport for assisting.

“I thought we were going to be here all night, to be honest with you,” Edwards said.