By David Melson,

Jason Reynolds,

Brian Mosely, and

Sadie Fowler

Special to the Tribune

A large explosion at a Shelbyville oil company Monday left one employee seriously burned and disrupted the day for much of downtown Shelbyville.

Witnesses said they heard two loud "booms" at Southern Energy, Lane Parkway, followed immediately by the east end of the building exploding.

The employee, who has been identified by Southern Energy owner Gary King as "Mike," was offloading a substance described as methanol by Fire Chief Ricky McConnell.

The injured worker suffered burns over 50 percent of his body, officials said. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center.

King was experiencing mixed emotions Tuesday as he reflected on Monday's disaster.

"I'm stressed," said an emotional King. "I thank the fire department for what they've done, the police department for blocking the area and Shelbyville Power for their help ... That's the good thing about living in a small town -- people come together to help you. Now, we're asking everyone to pray for Mike."

King also said he was not exactly sure what caused the explosion. He said they have been making bio-fuel at Southern Energy for two years, "but nothing that would have made that type of flash point."

King said there was a tractor-trailer being unloaded Monday morning, but he said at this point they do not know the exact cause.

"All I'm hearing is rumors," McConnell said Tuesday. "They were transferring liquid from a tractor-trailer to a stationary trailer. The liquid leaked and found an ignition source, and it blew. We're not sure if it was inside or outside the building."

State fire and environmental officials were to arrive yesterday and determine exactly what sparked the blaze and what substances were involved.

"The whole wall of the building suddenly blew off," said James Brewer, who was standing nearby. Several Shelbyville firefighters said they heard the blast from the fire hall a block away.

Tim Wilson at NAPA Auto Parts/Florida Brothers Inc. said he and his co-workers heard the explosion from across the street. He looked out and saw flames. The flames were not high at first, but grew following more blasts, they said.

Substances spewed across the rear parking lot and down the north ditchline along West Jackson Street as the fire was being fought. At one point the chemical-filled ditchline was ablaze for up to 50 yards as the contaminated water flowed toward a nearby drainage basin that empties into the Duck River.

Shelbyville public works employees set up dams around the West Jackson-North Cannon Boulevard intersection and bulldozed the water that reached the basin.

But some fluid did flow into a sewer gate, emerging in a detention pond at the new city water plant. Public works crews hurried to contain the spill.

City workers spent all night pumping the spillage and were still doing soTuesday morning.

Public Works Director Mark Clanton said they are still awaiting paperwork to learn exactly what substance was spilled. City officials were told Monday that it was used cooking oil that is converted into biodiesel fuel.

Methanol, the chemical described by McConnell, is less flammable than gasoline and no more dangerous to humans, according to multiple chemical-related websites.

Students from Thomas Magnet School, approximately two blocks from the fire scene were sent by bus to Harris Middle School. They were allowed to return to Thomas approximately two hours later.

Bedford County Courthouse was evacuated after electricity went out following the explosion. Court cases were put on hold.

Bedford County Animal Control, which adjoins Southern Energy, evacuated about 50 dogs and a few cats.

The explosion set the facility's back yard on fire, forcing a handful of dogs in outdoor pens to be evacuated first. It took longer to evacuate the dogs from inside the building.

Rescue Waggin' picked up some dogs and took them to Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic. Other evacuated dogs were taken to the old Harris Middle School gym by Rutherford County animal control officers and other volunteers.

Bedford County Workhouse, next to the animal shelter, was also evacuated.

Inmates were taken to Bedford County Jail initially, with plans to house them in the National Guard Armory overnight, but firefighters allowed them to return to the workhouse at mid-afternoon.

Sheriff Randall Boyce said emergency responders were "tested" when burning oil began flowing through a ditch from the facility behind the workhouse and the county animal shelter.

"We were scared to death," Boyce said. "If that fire had come on down that ditch, it would have burned down that restaurant on the corner."

Shelbyville city firefighters were joined by Bedford County Fire Department personnel in battling the blaze.

Tullahoma firefighters brought an engine to Shelbyville in case any other local calls occurred.