NewsLocal NewsIn Your NeighborhoodMcLennan County

Actions

Dedication planned Saturday in West for explosion memorial

West explosion
Posted at 8:35 AM, Apr 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-12 22:31:55-04

WEST, Texas (AP/KXXV) - Ceremonies will be held this weekend in a Central Texas town to remember the 15 people killed in a 2013 fertilizer plant fire and explosion.

Organizers say the City of West Fallen Heroes Memorial will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Due to the weather, the event has been moved indoors to West High School at 1008 Jerry Mashek Dr.

Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to attend the event.

The April 17, 2013, blast at the West Fertilizer Co. plant claimed the lives of a dozen emergency personnel and three residents of West, a town of about 3,000 located 65 miles (104.6 kilometers) south of Dallas.

Work began in 2017 on the memorial at Parker's Park, located about 100 yards from where the plant erupted in fire. Architect and former West resident Kurt Vrbas designed the site, with a reflecting pool and plaques honoring those who died.

Donations helped cover the cost of the $300,000 project.