Homes and businesses evacuated around site of Monday's explosion

The combination of the explosions, spreading fire and toxic smoke from Mondayâ€™s Airgas Midsouth facility fire, forced a number of people to evacuate. <br><br>Firefighters, police officers and EMSA crews

Tuesday, August 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The combination of the explosions, spreading fire and toxic smoke from Mondayâ€™s Airgas Midsouth facility fire, forced a number of people to evacuate.

Firefighters, police officers and EMSA crews went door to door to evacuate an area extending from 6th Street North to Pine. And from Greenwood East to Lewis.

Tulsa Police officers had to go door-to-door in the neighborhoods surrounding the fire, forcing people to leave. They worried that the toxic smoke was dangerous. Plus, the electricity was out for most folks and the heat unbearable.

So some people were glad to leave, like Julia Hutchinson, â€œwithout electricity, I'll suffocate. I have a son in law, I'm going to his house."

A temporary shelter was also set up at 6th and Peoria.