Rex C. Curry / Special contributor to The Dallas Morning News

The plant that blew up Wednesday hadn't received a safety inspection in at least five years, News 8 has learned.

NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES

DALLAS — As the smoke clears over downtown Dallas after an explosive acetylene-fueled fire, News 8 is asking questions about the inspection records of the company that managed the Industrial Blvd. facility.

City regulations say businesses like Southwest Industrial Gases that deal with volatile materials are supposed to receive safety inspections every year.

Indeed, that's what Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender confirmed for News 8 as the fire was still burning.

"They've been in business for 30 years," Lt. Lavender said. "They've been inspected each and every year without problem."

But at a news briefing late Wednesday afternoon, Dallas Fire Marshal Debbie Carlin admitted that information was inaccurate.

She said the Southwest Industrial Gases facility has not been inspected in five years.

National fire experts told News 8 that an indoor and outdoor sprinkler system should be an important safety component of any plant that stores and handles dangerous gases.

But Dallas Fire-Rescue says sprinklers were not required when the plant was built, and they cannot be mandated at an existing facility—even though today's explosion served to underline the danger to the gas stations, convenience stores, busy highways, rail lines and residences in the danger zone.

E-mail bharris@wfaa.com