Criminally Negligent:The Marlie Farm Fire works Disaster 2006 | Plainly Difficult Documentary

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Here's the Link for this weeks outro song: madebyjohn.bandcamp.com/track/i-wish-you-could-talk TeeSpring: plainly-difficult.creator-spring.com Have any future suggestions? Let me know below!

[@WriteInAaronBushnell]

Do you sell a "Balls!" Shirt? I would buy that for myself

[@PlainlyDifficult]

@@WriteInAaronBushnell I probably should make one!! Maybe with a tennis ball on?

[@bobroberts2371]

@@PlainlyDifficult The vid is great however the music at the end is a bit loud. Maybe drop by 25 % for the next vid?

[@phiend2248]

No, but the high pitch towards the end of the video you could totally get rid of that please. Not only driving me crazy but my dog starting to go a little nuts.

[@Ice_Karma]

Meta -- the subtitles go wonky at starting at 13:12 with "from the Fire Brigades Union". Each subtitle stays on screen for far too long.

[@TimPerfetto]

Please never change your intro music bit. It perfectly fits the attitude/style of your videos

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@lesflynn4455]

Agreed. It's perfect.

[@blepblop7342]

i have thought this since i discovered this channel several years ago :’)

[@RobBoss757]

Better yet "ph into" cause he posts disaster porn

[@mmmteeth]

or the outro for that matter

[@devikwolf]

THIS is the kind of outright negligence that really scares me.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

It is isn't it!

[@omegalamda3145]

Texas…

[@remotecontrol1082]

The 2 mannequins at the end were pretty alarming, too!

[@thomasbell7033]

@@omegalamda3145 Hunh?

[@mclovin6039]

@thomasbell7033 there's a fuck ton of negligent industrial accidents in texas

[@StreuB1]

I agree on the Negligent decision but I believe there should also be Complacency as well. People that work with dangerous materials for long periods of time tend to become complacent with the materials and what they do with them. Also, lack of Training. Great job John!!!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@mbryson2899]

I saw that at two places I worked. After a few years some staff became remarkably cavalier about safety.

[@andrewdenby8239]

Absolutely without a doubt, this wouldn't have been the first time they completely ignored all safety rules and every time they did and 'got away with it' they reinforced the idea in their own minds that the rules were an unnecessary faff, until... The thing with explosives is that it only takes one mistake and the effects are, well, explosive...

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

This is negligence on a criminal level, negligence so severe it is actually a crime.

[@BlackMoonHowls]

Nitroglycerin bois be like....."We gots da explosive stuffs back in da lab." We are da best! WRRRAAGG....(Explode)

[@SVD_NL]

This instantly reminded me of the Enschede fireworks disaster, which happened about 6 years prior. Fireworks manufacturer right in the middle of a city, what could go wrong?Left a large portion of the city looking like a warzone, damages were a billion guilders (about half a billion euros), a few deaths, and many wounded and/or homeless.

[@YaeLisa]

I wanted to comment about this one. Would like to see it being covered on this channel actually.

[@Dredgenicon]

To add on to it, the city was build around it iirc. It was poor city planning. Residents complained about the fireworks manufacturer but nothing was done

[@Dutch3DMaster]

For as far as I know, S.E. Fireworks was not a manufacturer (fireworks manufacturing is done in China, at least for consumer fireworks) of fireworks, but only a storage facility. It could've been safe, had it not been for the fact that rules were not followed there, and some sea-shipping containers with consumer fireworks were left open. When a fire started there it caused a serious fire quickly, and some of the first, mild explosions, spreading the fire. Eventually this heated up the containers that were closed according to regulations, some of which full of some of the more innocent type of consumer fireworks (those things that spin around while producing all colors of the rainbow in their flame). This heat-up caused the fireworks inside to ignite, causing a massive chain reaction in a fraction of a second, which caused the first serious explosion, which already blew rooftiles of off homes, along with shattering windows close to the storage facility. After this explosion it only got worse and quickly after another container suffered the same overheating problem, unfortunately containing more powerful fireworks, which caused the massive explosion that leveled hundreds of homes, turning the neighbourhood into a warzone in the fraction of a second. A Dutch documentary on the disaster went along with the researchers who wanted to know if consumer fireworks were capable of doing such damage, either due to improper storage or storage according to regulations. An explosive test site had researchers put consumer fireworks inside the sea-shipping container, but even the managers of the site were unsure about the amount of damage it might do, and had safety perimeters double of what they would normally be. The first explosion (open container, igniting contents directly) already surprised the owners of the test site, but the second test (closed sea shipping container, ignited due to heat outside) caused a massive crater, and a part of the container was launched 150 meters away or something, and the site owners were shocked knowing how storage facilities like the one from S.E. Fireworks were probably all over the world... Till then, there had been little thought nor research done on how stored consumer fireworks would be capable of actually causing such a huge explosion. Regulations on storage inside stores selling fireworks were strengthened seriously after the disaster...

[@emilen2]

Same with Seest near Kolding, Denmark. A fireworks factory went nuclear in a residential area.

[@ingetuinman8793]

My first thought was also that they didn't learn from the disaster in Enschede

[@janemiettinen5176]

Igniters in a can of nails? That doesnt sound like just an accident to me, nobody can be that complacent. Even I wouldve known better, so that tells a lot. “Where are you bastardo?” got me good, thanks John!

[@evegreenification]

❤

[@Mavendow]

Yeah, they should've filled the buckets with a mix of fireworks and batteries! Or just a lot of pure nitro, you know, to keep the detonators fresh.

[@nicgamer2643]

It means right that in Italy lol

[@Aaron-zu3xn]

the idea of someone what doesn't know garbage bags make static electricity shouldn't be allowed to manufacture explosives they should know static sparks can set off the igniters

[@sierralarars]

@@Aaron-zu3xn I didn’t know that ngl! Thankfully I don’t make explosives

[@VoidHalo]

Gotta say, I really like that you're putting out videos more frequently. But what I like more is that it hasn't affected the quality at all. You even still go into adequate detail explaining the technical side of what happened while keeping the video interesting. And the decision to cover more stories about non-radioactive industrial accidents was a good idea as well. I realize that was a risky gamble, but I personally enjoy the videos about other disasters just as much as any radiological disaster. You made some great choices and your channel's gotten so much better as a result. And it was already great to begin with. So you've really outdone yourself.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@spacecat85]

agreed completely. I've watched a lot of docus about disasters of all kinds for years and I keep learning about ones I never heard of before here. appreciate the short and concise explanations as to what went wrong and how, and how things got to that point, those are exactly the things I'm interested in

[@extracelestial9527]

Agreed! This is my favorite channel specifically for those reasons.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Agreed.

[@jurah7527]

Agreed, and this most certainly is not my place to formally advise, but John please always place your own health above these videos! Your well-being will always be more important to us than an extra video a week, but I know I, for one love seeing the notification when you upload 😅

[@Unb3arablePain]

I really enjoy these UK disaster videos. Being in the USA I know a lot here from TV docs and such, but rarely are disasters across the pond covered.

[@tookitogo]

I disagree. The big disaster shows (made by US networks) cover lots of things abroad.

[@mariemccann5895]

@@tookitogo That was a bit petty.

[@tookitogo]

@@mariemccann5895 Petty? How so?

[@steveluckhurst2350]

You shouldn't believe everything you see/hear on a bloody youtube video.

[@piquat1]

A few days ago 100,000 gallons of vinyl chloride was spilled in Palestine, Ohio in a train wreck. It was then intentionally lit on fire. Wildlife is dying, dead fish in the waters, pets are dying, people are sick, a town 40 miles away had to switch to an alternate water source. Watching it unfold made me think of the stories on your channel.

[@zen4men]

An evil act indeed. Someone is either sabotaging large areas of America's industries, or the US is VERY unlucky recently. So many food actory fires, for example.

[@mariemccann5895]

I think that case is going to see the courts saturated for the next 20 years. Total incompetence.

[@JoshSweetvale]

​@@mariemccann5895 It's America. Companies are above the law.

[@Luppay131498]

The fact that the effects of this incident continue to be discovered while the situation remains unresolved is far beyond sickening.

[@garywells293]

My dad was one of the lead firefighters that day. I remember watching it live on the news with my mum. It was a horrible job as martin and Nathan were giving incredibly conflicting information. Ive never seen my dad so affected by something and the preceeding court case took a massive toll on him. What affected him most was he was just behind brian when he lost his life. It also took about 3 months for his hearing to return fully. Thank you for making this video. Unfortunately, my dad passed away 11 years ago but seeing this reminded me how brave and selfless he was.

[@sherirobinson6867]

I absolutely adore your bubble comments "Oops, this ain't right, time to get out of dodge etc " throughout your videos. I've watched your entire content and it's definitely one of my favorites

[@yohanathandowns9057]

"Balls" kills me

[@joshgibbens8478]

I lived seven miles away, and I remember feeling the explosion. It was a completely avoidable incident, and the people responsible deserved to receive longer sentences, in my opinion.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

You should also cover the Fengate, Peterborough, fireworks explosion of 1989. At least this was a rural area. Fengate cost a firefighter his life and led to ballistic face shield on their helmet when the fireworks exploded. 107 people were injured by the explosion, 84 of them needing hospital treatment.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@nickyaerobones]

@@PlainlyDifficult I was 3 miles away from it at school and it rattled the windows. When I got home, my neighbour Stuart was the fireman who was holding the hose behind the man who was killed. The explosion also brought in legislation making it that all vans and lorries carrying fireworks must have a sign on them saying explosives

[@Palmit_]

@@nickyaerobones i also had a person that was in post office queue behind my uncles best friend who heard one of his friends say their uncle heard an explosion sound, probably, but his aunt told him that she got the story from he friend betty, who works at the book makers and she knew her friends husband say about it as they were waiting for the results of the 3:40 jumps at kempton.

[@krissteel4074]

Fireworks factory disasters are a long and tragic history, there was one in Indonesia I think 3-4yr ago that killed about 50 people There's really no halfway with fireworks factories when someone might have a bit of an oopsie, its just either everything is completely fine or everything is on fire and exploding.

[@marvindebot3264]

Agree, please do.

[@traceykelly2603]

Sad case, but the firemen that were lost should have evacuated when told. Perhaps they did not hear the alarm. Great video.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you! It is really tragic

[@Jamie8100]

I know a few of the firefighters that went in and attended as I worked in a pub round the corner from a local fire station. The firefighters were told not to go to into certain containers but kinda ignored the advice given. It’s tragic and is still taboo to talk about with firefighters in the area

[@wolvesone]

Few years ago here we had a local chief and one other firefighter get caught in a fire when the building collapsed the chief died the other firefighter survived crews had gotten an evac code and were jyst on the edge of the building setting up what is called a master stream (a large ground mounted nozzle)when it collapsed here in the states typically in an EVAC the sound the horns on all the trucks so that even with out a radio the know to evac the bad thing is if you have ever been on a scene they are very noisy between truck engines radio chatter raging flames ect on a scene like this you have the added explosion noise these firefighters and government inspectors should have done more pre planning on what to do worst case and the business should have been inspected and fined more often

[@markh.6687]

The emergency response plan by the local fire service was woefully deficient; a two-engine initial response to a facility known to house explosive materials was far far less than needed from the outset, especially upon a report of an explosion and fire in progress. And apparently there was no in-house fire brigade on scene to try combating the initial fires, or it looked so bad from the outset that they used their brains and evacuated right away. (Yes, sometimes the smartest thing anybody can do, regardless of skill or training or desire to help, is to get the HELL out of the scene). The fallen firefighters may not have realized the danger they were in, and no fire officer was apparently directly monitoring them to make sure they got out and were accounted for. In America even a fire alarm at such a facility would have been a large response by a larger fire department/service, or a standing-order automatic mutual aid response from nearby local fire departments before even being ordered by the fire officer in charge of the response. The fire officer could also order additional mutual aid while en route with the initial response if dispatch advises him or her of an active fire or explosion, or if he or she can see the flames and smoke long before arrival. The fact that firefighters may not have heard the evacuation whistle through their protective equipment (fire-resistant hoods and neck/ear covers) and the noises of the scene is also another tragedy. In America they broadcast evacuation tones over firefighter's radios, as well as use the fire engine's air horns and/or public address systems to sound an evacuation signal and give a voice message.

[@wolvesone]

@@markh.6687 This is all 100% true i spent 8 years as a volunteer firefighter in a support role and have been on countless scenes that resulted in the EVAC horns here even a fire alarm ht a normal business gets 2 engines 1 ladder rescue and a chief a place like that would have gotten the entire city plus mutual aid heck we had a plane crash here and had units from 20+ miles away respond and it didn't even blow up

[@maymarsh9117]

Every time I drive over a bridge I say loudly and calmy" My name is John, and this is plainly difficult".. My husband hates it.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

XD!!!

[@phaasch]

We live about 6-7 miles east of Marley Farm, and were out working in the garden that Sunday afternoon. I can't remember if we'd noticed sirens, they're quite common in our area, but I vividly remember the concussion from the pressure wave, as our ears popped, and we looked at each other as if to say "what the hell was that?" Then the boom followed, rolling across the Weald. We both downed tools, went inside and put the TV on, waiting for the first news report we knew would follow, as I'd not heard an explosion like that since the Docklands bombing 10 years before. You just knew that there was going to be fatalities.

[@Palmit_]

i also had a person that was in post office queue behind my uncles best friend who heard one of his friends say their uncle heard an explosion sound, probably, but his aunt told him that she got the story from her friend betty, who works at the book makers and she knew her friends husband say about it as they were waiting for the results of the 3:40 jumps at kempton.

[@marvindebot3264]

@@Palmit_ Can you just stop the copypasta and try not to be such a massive bellend.

[@VannOuO]

In Mexico there's a fireworks market in Tultepec and it has accidents like this that start with people playing around or bad storage :l it's always tragic to hear

[@christycullen2355]

I've seen it get destroyed multiple times on the programme destroyed in seconds

[@stevie-ray2020]

Especially when sellers start lighting their products to demonstrate how spectacular they are!

[@chesspiece81]

As usual, my Saturday mornings are starting off Plainly Difficult, and I love it. Thanks John for the uploads

[@PlainlyDifficult]

My pleasure!

[@MightyMezzo]

This made me think of the Webb’s Bait Farm disaster in Tennessee in 1983, in which several members of the farm family were killed. The owner was persuaded to start a completely illegal fireworks operation in an effort to save his farm from foreclosure.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

The music for your videos just keeps getting better. I actually went through the process of obtaining my ATF license here in the US so I can legally store and use fireworks up to a specific size and power. I can't have anything too large or bordering on commercial grade, however you'd be surprised by how easily I got the license. I filled out some paperwork, they did the most basic background check I've ever been a part of, and a short inspection of my storage facility and safety equipment. The 4th of July at my place is one hell of a banger! Last year's display was almost a full 60 minutes of straight fireworks.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

So basically "are you a criminal?" - "no" "do you have a safe?" - "yes" "here is your license"

[@DeathMetalDerf]

@@HappyBeezerStudios you're not far off. It's slightly more "in-depth" than that, but not by very much.

[@mariemccann5895]

You are not painting a very good picture of yourself.

[@ArDeeMee]

@@mariemccann5895 They clearly passed the safety check, so take it up with the regulators. =)

[@radon1221]

6:28 Sure is bizarre alright. I wonder what they were doing inside a container full of what is essentially the perfect candidate for a shrapnel IED.

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Someone had a bomb in mind. Pretty sure that was not where they wanted it to go off.

[@nvelsen1975]

It was part of the Allahu Akbar Series of fireworks, very popular. 😉

[@radon1221]

@@nvelsen1975 The event was held in Manchester?

[@krashd]

@@ABrit-bt6ce Nah, someone was just careless, or in this case reckless, most British sheds will have containers of used nails and it's not unusual to place other non-nail objects in there. I have an old paint can of nails that has screwdrivers in it.

[@ChoppingtonOtter]

Yes, extremely suspicious.

[@drac2you]

Hello, John! You new t-shirt design with your story graphics is awesome especially, since I LOVE your use of them during your tellings. Keep up the great work keeping us informed and entertained. BTW this whole situation was a Balls! incident, to be sure!!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@NotAFirefighter1]

Please do the Seest fireworks disaster in Denmark already, it was very well documented. I was a firefighter on the station that responded first, same station that lost a firefighter there

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Heike--]

There's been a million videos about that one already! Why on earth do we need one more? Go watch one of the others.

[@minecraftfirefighter]

if you want another firework themed one, there is the Enschede fireworks disaster aswell.

[@redsable6119]

There's one in the US as well. Fireworks manufactured on a farm. Actually there are a lot of firework mfg disasters in the US.

[@IAMPLEDGE]

@@Heike-- maybe so that firefighters, heath and safety and planning officers and the general public might finally realise that fireworks in built up areas are exceedingly dangerous.

[@Lazy_Tim]

I've worked with fireworks. Ignitors don't just go off. They are just like safety matches. We are missing info here.

[@darthkarl99]

Covered near the end of the video. Honestly without knowing some more details around the shipping container, (asked a question in another comment about that), the improper storage sounds like a much bigger problem.

[@Lazy_Tim]

@@darthkarl99 Agreed!

[@marcussheen]

I live a 30 minute drive away, and the force of the explosion was so loud that I honestly thought the roof of my house had moved. Absolutely terrifying to think there were people on the site

[@VinnieTheGreat]

I would recommend you make a video on the Enschede Fireworks disaster, an even larger disaster caused by gross negligence. Thanks for the good video,John!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@evagoor]

@@PlainlyDifficult It would be very interesting to learn what you think of it. Since you have seen many investigations and it is still not 100% clear what caused this disaster.

[@elvinhaak]

@@PlainlyDifficult It was mine too, but first looked if you did it already ... Maybe you can make some lists of the video's about the same kind of thema?

[@Lext87]

Something about unlicensed storage containers and fireworks disasters. Was with the SE-Fireworks disaster in Enschede the same.

[@VinnieTheGreat]

@@Lext87 seems to be a common theme unfortunately…

[@kenbolsen8295]

I grew up near a fire work manufacturer. The every building on the site was bunkered and bermed. No production building had more than 100kg of explosives and each storage bunker held only 1-5 tonnes depending on design.

[@nicrobe9443]

Your videos feel like candy. I know it's not good for my psyche to keep learning about all these tragedies, but I just can't stop eatin'em up. Delicious, teeth-decayingly good video as always!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you

[@geezzzwdf]

i agree , never change the iconography. Mr. Jon❤,🇬🇧 i look forward to your program..😊🇺🇸

[@Cheshire_Cat137]

I remember one incident where a worm farm was illegally making fireworks and an explosion happened that resulted in horrific damages.

[@stevecann3394]

It's covered really well in a book called 'Beyond the body farm' well worth a look

[@DMazz441]

Did I fucking hear that right? 6:30 "a paint can bizarrely filled with nails". WHY WAS THAT FILLED WITH NAILS AT ALL?! Who thinks "yes put nails and ignitors inside an airtight metal container. They'll be fine. Def not homemade pipe bombs"

[@brucelytle1144]

Rust proofing the nails of course! Don't you paint your nails?

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

They read The Anarchist Cookbook on DIY handgrenades...

[@jpe1]

If you are looking to make more videos on explosions in manufacturing facilities, you might look into the Concept Sciences hydroxylamine explosion, Feb 1999. I was driving home from work that night and felt the explosion and had no idea what it was at the time, but it was all over the news the next day.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@princepsregem4006]

@@PlainlyDifficult there was also a large fireworks storage related explosion somewhere in the Canadian maritimes. The video of the explosion is out there but I’d advise against watching it as several people died.

[@loglad5394]

I will never get tired of your videos, they have educated me so much on events like this and always make my day when you upload.

[@IndyandJazmin]

The five hundred thousand dollar payout to the families of the two deceased firefighters was a total joke and an outright insult as well, smh.

[@SIXITHS]

It was also their union who gave the money, not the manufacturer of the fireworks, their insurers or even the government...

[@IndyandJazmin]

It only seems to get worse the more I learn. Thanks for taking the time to share that tidbit of greedy insanity in regard to zero accountability by those responsible for the entirety of this tragic, irresponsible incident.

[@carlosdanger5877]

Thanks for this episode I watch your videos all the time they’re so well put together I really appreciate it!

[@davidtraynor8075]

Two folk went to work to do a job and died for it due to two others not doing theirs. Rips ma knitting when folk think that "that'll be fine" "no ones going to know/ care"

[@MeriaDuck]

Vomited into existence... promising start of the video ❤️

[@pearlkt]

Omg I remember this. We lived outside and the smoke was intense. There were loads of people talking about the family and the incident.

[@andydalgleish7122]

It was an utter disaster. Total respect to ESFRS for their professionalism. Sending compassion to those still suffering from the after effects of this tragedy today.

[@Eddue100]

oh wow, this one has sentimental value to me as it happened 6 miles from where I live, and I remember it happening like it was yesterday

[@suchabadkitty1293]

Someone else on here said they lived nearby as well and the sonic boom made their ears pop. Did you have any experiences like that with it?

[@18robsmith]

Sadly this reminds me of the fireworks warehouse fire at Baswich near Stafford a few years later which killed someone in an adjoining property :-(

[@PlainlyDifficult]

It is very sad

[@VTALLANDY]

I was just going to comment about SP Plastics/SP Fireworks Stafford when I saw you’d already mentioned them.

[@Harry._.Thompson]

John: “Something that brings joy and excitement to any party or festival”… Me: drugs John: “Fireworks” Oh..

[@LoriPeace]

John, I thoroughly enjoy your videos, especially your endings, telling us what the weather is where you are -- it's a cool little touch, something different from what anyone else does. This particular video is really sad -- I hate to see firefighters and other first responders injured, let alone killed, in the line of duty. As others here have said, they should have evacuated when ordered, but maybe they didn't hear the order, or maybe stayed with the thought that they could take care of something quickly and then leave. We'll never know. Lovely foreshadowing in your storytelling, by telling about the buckets filled with nails -- as soon as you mentioned it, I thought, oh, no, that's going to be a problem. And I really liked that you explained how the igniters worked -- I had no idea, so I really appreciated learning about it. Overall, a very good job!

[@dandelionveins]

The background music is quite perfect! I also love that all-over print you've made, those guys are always one of my favourite parts of your videos!

[@AppliedCryogenics]

LOVED the end menu! Not sure if amused, bemused, terrified, tickled, or filled with existential dread.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@klaymeb42]

Whoa, crazy story. Negligent indeed. In 2004, there was a pretty serious accident in a fireworks factory in Seest, Denmark. It'd be cool to hear your take on that.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I was looking up the Ohio incident when I saw Wikipedia has a list of fireworks explosions...it was uncomfortably long 😮‍💨

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Much like industrial disasters in general very scary long list!

[@colchronic]

Oh my god that music in the middle during the disaster is ominously brilliant Good job John Love your content been around since the beginning keep it up!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

thank you

[@nathangillmore5064]

That “vomited into existence” animation 😂 Love your work!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you

[@randallrigney420]

I got recommended one of your videos, so I watched it, and you just got a new subscriber. ✌️

[@blindsniper35]

No, You do not wrap primary explosives in plastic bags. For essentially the same reason you don't do that to electronics. Haven't finished the video yet but that makes me concerned. Edit: Sorry I forgot to define the type of explosives that are ESD sensitive.

[@nlwilson4892]

That was my thought too, bin bags cause lots of static electricity. Need to be careful using them with flour too, for instance discarded flour into your kitchen bin then pulling out the bin bag.

[@sillerbarly4927]

Expecially since those igniters were electric and would have probably gone off from the static in the bags

[@nothereforit.605]

@@nlwilson4892has this happened? I honestly can’t think of way this could happen.

[@littleloner1159]

@@nothereforit.605 I mean flower, like any fine dust, is ignitable and can go boom And static electricity produces little sparks (you can see them in the dark, i have a sweater that builds up static and in the dark you can see tons of little blue sparks when the fabric touches itself) So, if a trash bag is just sitting there, you put flower in, and then you move it, the same thing can happen and those sparks could ignite a puff of flower.

[@dougaltolan3017]

@@nothereforit.605 It *could* happen, but it's very unlikely... Sure cloud of flour dust can explode, in the right conditions. Sure, bin bags can generate static ekectricity. Butt (there's always a butt).... It would need the right density cloud of dust to be outside the bin liners as that's where the sparks will be. I cant speak for anyone else here, but when I empty the bin, I do try to keep the insides in and not wafting around the outside.

[@lukek8357]

I'm a Pyrotechnician. Handling igniters should be done with care. Static electricity, radio signals and other electronics can trigger them if they aren't shunted. We take off our watches, remove keys and phones etc before fusing or connecting them to the firing systems.

[@lukek8357]

@@HustleMuscleGhias if it's got no batteries it's probably safe however it's best to remove them as a matter of caution.

[@Truckngirl]

Your new song is lovely. I bought it on Bandcamp.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you that’s really nice of you

[@amrastheluckywoof5524]

This reminds me of the fireworks disaster in the Dutch city of Enschede. In the middle of a residential area, there was a huge fireworks production and storage facility. Due to an on-site fire and way more (and not properly stored) fireworks than allowed, a whole neighbourhood got blown up, with just 15 -20 people dead. Bone chilling. It's called the S.E. Fireworks disaster.

[@Heike--]

Small business. No wonder they went to prison. Usually they go scot-free. Should have been a big corporation or a government department! Having watched lots of these videos, being one of those guarantees no jail time and a slap-on-the-wrist fine, if any punishment at all.

[@GokkeSokkenDK]

Seeing you having made a video about firework disasters makes me hope you'll some day look into the Seest fireworks disaster that happened in Kolding, Denmark in 2004

[@autobotjazz1972]

There have been a number of cases of Fireworks production facilities in the US exploding due to accidents, with usually it being discovered negligent operations had made them powder kegs waiting to go off.

[@Yvolve]

The same happened in Enschede, the Netherlands. The fireworks factory was situation IN a residential area and went up in a giant explosion. Definitely worth making a video, although it might be difficult with the language barrier.

[@justinthomas7222]

Right, before we start, I'ma Like & Comment on this new Plainly Difficult video!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@robertsettles2180]

Storing the igniters in cans with nails. You have to wonder if they were actually trying to make home made claymores! Thats a new level of carelessness.

[@Damien.D]

Too bad the firefighters tried to fight the fire. The fun and safe way to deal a firework factory disaster is to evacuate everybody, back out, and enjoy the show.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

it would have been the better option

[@Damien.D]

@@PlainlyDifficult Wile E. Coyote ACME firework factory safety regulation book rule n1 : don't be near fire (Rule n2 is "do not store nails near firewoks")

[@rglrts]

Yeah, roadblocks would have been a better option. How many workers were on site/ended up as casualties vs. firefighters?

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

It was utter stupidity. Also, garbage bags create static electricity when taken out of the roll or rubbed against clothing. So, more genius calls by Nathan, right there. The sheer amount of destruction is almost unbelievable. Great video, John.

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Imagine his face when they _"started igniting"_

[@PlainlyDifficult]

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

@@PlainlyDifficult great reply

[@erikatracy207]

Ah yes, paint cans full of nails, the ideal storage container for practically anything.

[@forcelightningcable9639]

“It kept on getting worse” describes the state of my government right now

[@CoachHayes100]

I Love your stories/history voice. It makes me engaged when I'm driving.

[@anthyatt6904]

I witnessed the firework factory blaze in Stafford in October 2014. Two employees of the company died during the fire. The owner was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter. Apparently there was 10 the permitted limit of fireworks stored on the site. So not many lessons learnt there then.

[@PlainlyDifficult]

That’s pretty terrifying!

[@dturbo306]

@@PlainlyDifficult the waste management building on red hills road in stoke on trent is about the same as that

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

As a kid, about seven or eight years old, I was taught both how to build fires, and how to make sure the fire can't spread. This rather basic information gave me respect for fire, and when I was some years older, playing with firecrackers and tennis ball cannons, I learned a bit more. The idea that adults, professionally involved with explosives, could be so insanely careless really blows my mind. I've seen pictures of a Chinese fireworks factory--they built the place of brick or stone, with each worker's station isolated so that an explosion in one station could not possibly set off anything else. It's obvious that these idiots had no idea what they were doing, and shouldn't have been allowed to operate in the first place, and should have been shut down, when the discrepancies were found, until the problems were corrected. So, not only were the business owners responsible, but the government organizations involved also failed to do the right thing. Aside from anything else, what kind of lunatic stores igniters in cans of nails? That sounds almost like a deliberate action, intended to cause a problem. If I were storing such things, I'd be isolating each and every igniter, not dumping them in with things that, quite obviously, will damage them.

[@ian-lukepenwald8638]

You popped up on my feed for the first time just now. I have now subscribed because yout story telling voice and style is immediately engaging...

[@ocdmusic]

The igniters in paint cans with nails sound like they could work like nail bombs?

[@PlainlyDifficult]

For extra surprise!

[@reachandler3655]

That was my thought too.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Smells like an insurance job to me.

[@7891ph]

I've worked for small businesses that had that mindset towards safety (although none used explosives). Needless to say, but I wasn't there long. Part of that came from my Dad having served in the US Navy; he was a real hard ass about safety on the farm when my brother and I were growing up, and I tend to gravitate to employers that care about safety as a result.

[@LetsTakeWalk]

In 2000, something similar occurred in the Netherlands. But it was in the middle of the city of Enschede. Maybe an idea for a future video?

[@tomhemming9236]

was in primary school when this happened, TA for my class lost her husband, was very shocking and sad

[@uppityglivestockian]

Always horrible to hear about loss of life of value-added first responders, but for me, most esp when they put themselves at risk over a thing. I know this was a mix of property and lives but when it's just property, a factory building, etc, unless letting it burn itself out would end up hurting others beyond the property, then let it go. I'm enjoying your catalogue of documentaries PD, the kind of content for which I begrudgingly tolerate YTs censorious and capricious rules. If you ever start a channel on Rumble, do talk it up as much as as you can, because I prefer to watch there. It is improving every day, and the livestream superchat, Rumble Rants, are much better for the creators. I'll buy a RR there, I will never buy a superchat here. Paz y salud.

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

Oof. The delay in compensation for the deceased firefighters' families really made me wince!! If their families were at all dependent on those guys' work income to get by, ten years later is way too late to help them out...

[@keithsj10]

Things like this happening are why the government has to keep ramping up regulation to no end because people keep finding ways to hurt others through negligence. Nice video 👍

[@Br3ttM]

We don't need more regulations, we need the ones that already exist to actually be followed. They had already been found to be in violation, but, apparently, dealing with dangerously stored explosives isn't seen as urgent.

[@MrLHabets]

It reminds me of the fireworks disaster in Enschede, The Netherlands, in 2000. There were 23 casualties, 950 people injured people and 200 houses were destroyed.

[@Aviertje]

Nicely researched. Do you have any plans on covering the Enschede fireworks disaster at some point? I see you mentioned it in the description. Or is the language barrier a problem?

[@ZolaClyde]

I look forward to your videos every week. You do such a great job. And thank you for explaining everything so well - I was wondering how the fireworks erupted w/out a spark and you did an excellent job of explaining how this happened. :)

[@RobSchofield]

This reminds me of the massive explosion at the fireworks storage bunker in Enschede, NL. We were living in Amersfoort, about 120km away inland, and we heard the bang at that distance! One for your disaster stories?

[@gannas42]

Holy crap that high pitch sound in the background around 9:30 broke my brain. Thanks for covering another interesting topic!

[@basicx7789]

COOL TSHIRTS MAN!!!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thank you!

[@OGA103]

Gotta say...great videos but my favorite part of every video is when you show the locations of the disasters on a map.

[@JonnyMack33]

Cough insurance cough

[@TarkusSharkus]

Thank you for covering a disaster that happened so close to home! I remember this vividly, but never really heard of the aftermath! I agree, outright negligent!

[@thefez-cat]

We're having an episode of Plainly Difficult in Ohio right now, courtesy of a train hauling chemicals. What chemicals? So far the only one the company that owns the chemicals has publicly identified is vinyl chloride. (They're not legally obligated to tell us what's in the cars.)

[@davidpawson7393]

Of course not. Follow the money to who the owner's donate to.

[@autarchex]

As soon as you mentioned "bin bags" it was clear that this could only end in tragedy. Powder residues and dust that accumulates around loose fireworks in facilities operated by idiots is easily ignited by static sparks. Whether that's what happened here? Dunno. It probably would have eventually.

[@iAmNothingness]

I really like how you don't use very sad backround music or "scary" backround music. While reading it all like a fake sadness crying influencer. The amount of negative energy channels out there covering sad cases is endless. I can watch this and be informed on a story that is a very sad without gettin sucked into a deep sad darkness.

[@Kaykdoa]

Each explosion is another reason to ban Fireworks. (Along with repeated reasons, including: environmental impacts, impacts on the community, the stress of unwitting animals, etcetera.)

[@Alaryicjude]

Excellent video, as usual! One thing though, those high-pitched, piercing tones before the "Aftermath" chapter were almost unbearable. I had to turn my volume way down and it was still the only thing I could really hear. Thank goodness for the subtitles! Otherwise, thanks for another great mini-doc!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

Thanks for the tips!

[@Alaryicjude]

@@PlainlyDifficult , thanks for being open to feedback! 😃

[@MidniteLiquid]

Scheherazade is perfect for the intro! Love it every time I hear it!

[@PlainlyDifficult]

It’s a great piece

[@darthkarl99]

Colour me slightly confused. How exactly where they supposed to be shipping them overseas if not in a shipping container? This is one of those cases where the video covers what happens and some tangential faults of the company, but it's not clear why the fault they were charged over was actually a fault in the first place.

[@reachandler3655]

It could that it was too close to the building.

[@mbryson2899]

It may have been packaged to be loaded into a shipping container.

[@brody7714]

Shipping containers are often used as semi permanent on site storage cause of their forklift accessibility, availability and large size, as well as their watertight nature. We have one at work we use for storing roofing supplies.

[@brody7714]

Think a mini warehouse.

[@darthkarl99]

@@brody7714 Ahh, yeah if they were using it as semi-permanent storage without a permit, that makes sense. it's the way the video portrays it as being loaded specifically to ship out that got my eyebrow raised as it left me with the question of what they were supposed to do, (especially with international shipping), for shipping stuff around.

[@TechOne7671]

Corporate greed and corner cutting by cowboys cost two fire fighters their life’s. 7 years not enough. Well done John, another interesting content filled video.

[@rileymerson8781]

Ah yes, sussex! A name that certainly wont ever be made fun of or sound like something else in the future!

[@monkofdarktimes]

Do you know the sub division of Sussex

[@cw4608]

I love your animations. Thanks for taking the time to do them.

[@Menoetia]

The really high pitched noise that starts a 9:20 makes that portion difficult to listen to. 😓

[@ethie6562]

I heard the explosion. I remember sitting at the computer, playing Neopets in my PJs, then hearing this terrifying bang. I was only a kid, so I hid under the desk, and my mum ran outside to find all the other neighbours outside, looking around. I finally braved going after her, and saw the smoke in the sky. Now, for context: I didn't live in Ringmer. I lived in Uckfield. That's a good distance away. We didn't personally find out until the next day what the explosion or smoke was. One of the scariest nights sleep I had at the time. It's strange watching this, as an adult, and being able to understand the full and true horror of it all. Kind of glad I didn't know many details back then.

[@macaylacayton2915]

so i wasn't stupid for saying fireworks over on twitter lol. edit:wouldn't the chlorine in the pool make the fire WORSE?

[@PlainlyDifficult]

No you weren’t

[@reachandler3655]

Good point! Chlorine not only enhances combustion, but can react explosively with certain compound.

[@danielescobar7618]

Nice pressure vessel ya got there, m8

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I hate to say this, but I think this was a practical bit of arson. I know the people involved.

[@londo776]

same

[@mikehunte2087]

Known as Jewish lightning 🌩️☹️