Although no deaths or significant injuries were reported, multiple explosions rocked a chemical production plant in Kansas City's northeast Bottoms on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 7. Multiple fires broke out and raged for hours, ultimately destroying the facility completely.

Businesses, schools, and homes surrounding the disaster had to be evacuated as huge clouds of smoke rose and spread high and city-wide. Because of the enormous traffic tie-ups, Penn Valley decided to close campus, and doors were secured by 4:30pm.

From the abandoned fifth floor conference room, Spectrum was able to score exclusive photos of the mushroom plume as it grew over the downtown area.

A week later, massive cleanup operations were underway, and air quality in the Bottoms had returned to normal, said city officials.

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