1963 –March 29, Natural Gas leak explosion, Supreme Cleaners, Tucson, AZ — 7
–7 Arizona Daily Star. “50 years ago today, gas explosion killed 7…Tucson…” 3-29-2013.
–7 Tucson Daily Citizen. “Cleaners President Salonic Becomes 7th…Victim.” 4-2-1963, p. 17.
Narrative Information
March 30: “As the death toll climbed to six a contingent of city investigators moved today into the rubble of Supreme Cleaners to sift out clues to yesterday’s disastrous explosion. Gov. Paul Fannin arrived from Phoenix and joined Mayor Lew Davis in a heavy-hearted look at the tragic aftermath….
“Besides the six dead, 28 persons were sent to hospitals with injuries, some critical, and eight others were treated at the scene for minor injuries….
“The plant at 2332 N. Stone Ave. suffered almost a 100 per cent casualty list — dead or injured — of the employes on duty at the time of the devastating blast shortly after 11 a.m. About 40 persons were believed at work at the time….
“Battalion Chief Howard M. Danielson, chief of the city’s fire prevention bureau…said….‘To me, it looks like some sort of a gas explosion….It could have been gasoline fumes, sewer gas or natural gas…’….” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Jay Hall). “Sift Blast Site Rubble for Catastrophe Cause.” 3-30-1963, p. 1.)
April 1: “The tragic explosion at Supreme Cleaners which killed six persons Friday apparently originated in the fur storage vault, one of the principal investigators said today…Howard M. Danielson, chief of the city’s Fire Prevention Bureau…said the explosion ‘had to come from some kind of gas.’….
“Harris Salonic, 41…co-owner, remained in critical condition with burns over 35 percent of his body and with bruises and contusions…” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Jay Hall). “Blast Center Believed in Fur Vault.” 4-1-1963, p. 1.)
April 2: “Harris Salonic, president of Supreme Cleaners, died at St. Mary’s Hospital last night, the seventh victim of the tragic explosion last Friday at Supreme’s plant at Stone Ave. and Grant Road. Before he died, he gave investigators their most important clue yet to the cause of the tragic blast. He said he was in the fur vault in the basement and was about to leave it. He flipped off the light switch, it threw a spark, a flash flame ignited his hair and arms and a big explosion followed immediately. Salonic, 41…was pinned in the wreckage more than an hour….” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Cleaners President Salonic Becomes 7th Blast Victim.” 4-2-1963, p. 17.)
April 2: “Phoenix — (AP) — Gov. Paul Fannin has asked the legislature to pass a bill permitting the adoption of county building codes. The governor’s request was spurred by last Friday’s Supreme Cleaners explosion in Tucson…It was the fourth fatal accident connected with that city’s buildings in the past year.
“Fannin’s request came in a letter to Senate President Clarence Carpenter, D-Gila, and House Speaker W. B. Barkley, D-Maricopa. The governor wrote:
It is unfortunate that a tragedy must sometimes be the focal point to initiate action. As you know, last Friday the city of Tucson suffered a great tragedy that focuses the attention of the citizens of this state on construction standards. ….”
(Associated Press, Phoenix. “Local Blast Spurs Plea for Building Codes.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. 4-2-2016, p. 17.)
April 4: “Tucson Gas & Electric last night discovered a leak in a gas main approximately 65 feet away from the blast point of last Friday’s tragic Supreme Cleaners explosion….The gas leak apparently was the result of deterioration of the main, fire department officials said. The main in question runs under Grant Road near the north side of the roadway and joins another main which runs along Stone Avenue. The leak was near, but not in, the junction of the two mains. The main is about three to four feet underground. It is at a level that would be about halfway between the floor and ceiling of the fur storage vault, about 65 feet away. In the open air, the gas used by the utility would rise because it is lighter…However, when confined it usually follows the course of least resistance….The utility’s own crew discovered the leak by pressurizing the main and noting that the pressure dropped even though both ends of the main were shut off. They are working today to see whether there are additional leaks in the same pipe.
“Investigators found pockets of some kind of gas in the ground around the fur vault and the gas company has sent samples to Houston for analysis….
“Asked whether there might be similar leaks in other parts of the community, Tucson Gas & Electric President J. Luther Davis pointed out that utility crews, as well as outside experts, are constantly patrolling gas lines with equipment that detects gas. Gas leaks have a telltale effect on vegetation and this also is noted, Davis said….” (Tucson Daily Citizen. “Gas Leak Found Near Blast Site.” 4-4-1963, p. 19.)
April 9: “Land shifts, causing breaks or strain in underground pipes, have been raised as a possible contributing cause to the recent Supreme Cleaners disaster. The laundry is located in ‘a zone of intense fractioning,’ Dr. Willard Lacy, University of Arizona geology professor, noted in an address yesterday to the Pima County Republican Club at the Pioneer Hotel. Two years ago Lacy warned of a general settling of the North Side because of heavy underground water withdrawal. He pointed out that with the loss of buoyancy the earth settles.
“The Supreme Cleaners location at Stone and Grant is in an area undergoing differential movement — some land settling faster than the rest — he explained. The fracture zone is about a quarter mile wide, extending southwestward from Rillito Creek to a yet undetermined point….
“Lacy said that land settling is no longer confined to the North Side. The water table draw-down has been severe enough to weaken the land base under buildings as far east as the Wilmot-Broadway intersection. Lacy speculated that in 10 years or so the settling would reach the Pantano Wash. The settling stops when rocky foothill formations re reached. He estimated that since 1900 the Tucson basin had settled from 8 to 10 inches.
“Lacy suggested that settling areas perhaps should be pinpointed in building codes. He brought up the possible danger of other explosions….” (Tucson Daily Citizen. “Supreme Cleaners. Land Shift Seen as Possible Factor in Blast.” 4-9-2016, p. 1.)
April 19: “Tucson Gas & Electric was sued today by a Supreme Cleaners employe who claims she was permanently injured in the explosion and fire which destroyed the Stone avenue plant March 29. Mrs. Carmen Pedroza, 29…who was five months pregnant at the time, seeks ‘reasonable and just’ compensation for her injuries….
“Prepared by attorney Robert Miller, the complaint alleges the explosion was caused by the negligence of the defendant in permitting gas to escape into the plant. The pleading adds that the utility was negligent in the installation, maintenance and operation of its natural gas distribution system….” (Tucson Daily Citizen. “Supreme Employee Sues TG&E.” 4-19-1963, p. 9.)
Jan 13, 1964: “To recover compensation it is paying the widow and children of a victim in the Supreme Cleaners explosion last March 29, the State Industrial Commission today sued Tucson Gas & Electric for $105,515.
“The Superior Court suit is the first of approximately 30 such actions that the commission plans to file to recover claim payments made in connection with the plant blast, according to commission attorney Frank E. Murphy.
“In the initial case, the commission is seeking judgment for funds being expended as a result of fatal injuries sustained by Harris Salonic, president of Supreme Cleaners….
“Tucson Gas was negligent, the pleading adds, in allowing a volatile mixture of explosive gases to accumulate in the fur vault….” (Tucson Daily Citizen. “State Sues TG&E in Blast Death.” 1-13-1964, p. 21.)
Sources
Arizona Daily Star, Tucson (Kimberly Matas and Carmen Duarte). “50 years ago today, gas explosion killed 7, leaving Tucson in shock.” Tucson.com, 3-29-2013. Accessed 11-23-2016 at: http://tucson.com/news/local/years-ago-today-gas-explosion-killed-leaving-tucson-in-shock/article_fedddda0-fa70-5318-8c91-b9d83e13c44d.html
Associated Press, Phoenix. “Local Blast Spurs Plea for Building Codes.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. 4-2-2016, p. 17. Accessed 11-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-02/page-2?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Jay Hall). “Blast Center Believed in Fur Vault.” 4-1-1963, p. 1. Accessed 11-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-01?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Jay Hall). “Cleaners President Salonic Becomes 7th Blast Victim.” 4-2-1963, p. 17. Accessed 11-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-02/page-2?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Peter Starrett). “Gas Leak Found Near Blast Site.” 4-4-1963, p. 19. Accessed 11-24-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-04/page-18?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Jay Hall). “Sift Blast Site Rubble for Catastrophe Cause. Death Toll Climbs to 6; 36 Injured.” 3-30-1963, p. 1. Accessed 11-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/03-30/page-2?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “State Sues TG&E in Blast Death.” 1-13-1964, p. 21. Accessed 11-24-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1964/01-13/page-21?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ (Charles Gudaitis). “Supreme Cleaners. Land Shift Seen as Possible Factor in Blast.” 4-9-2016, p. 1. Accessed 11-24-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-09/page-2?tag
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Supreme Employee Sues TG&E.” 4-19-1963, p. 9. Accessed 11-24-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arizona/tucson/tucson-daily-citizen/1963/04-19/page-9?tag