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Rupture caused Wash. refinery blast that killed 7

Federal investigator says ruptured part caused blast, fire that killed 7 at Wash. refinery

ap
On Thursday June 10, 2010, 8:07 pm EDT

SEATTLE (AP) -- The chief official investigating a Washington state refinery explosion that killed seven people says the blast occurred when a heat exchanger ruptured on a unit that processes a highly flammable chemical.

Robert Hall, of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, said Thursday that it's not yet known why the device ruptured April 2 at Tesoro Corp.'s Anacortes refinery. Metallurgical tests will begin Friday at a laboratory in Cleveland.

Tesoro said Thursday that the facility will remain closed at least through September.

The company previously said the refinery would be closed through June, but spokesman Lynn Westfall says it will take months to clean the burned area and repair the damaged equipment.

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