Husky refinery in Superior Wisconsin had an explosion around 10:00 am today.
The blast was felt by people as far as twenty miles away. Thankfully, most of the workers on site were on break and in explosion resistant break rooms.

The smoke plume is huge and can be seen for miles. Liquid asphalt is the fuel source burning now. People living within a three mile radius of the refinery and ten miles down wind of the plume are being evacuated.

Hopefully all are well

WOW-southern fire,ya'll come.thankfully no one was hurt.

Been talking to the family today. Sister lives only a mile away and thought her house was gonna come down. Brother felt it in Duluth. They have evacuated. Family friends are on scene firefighters and trying to get it under control.

Well, I guess gas prices will take another big jump!

My youngest son lives within 3 miles of the refinery and he just evacuated earlier today. Luckily his wife's uncle lives nearby so they can stay there until the air clears whenever that will be.

He said it stinks a lot like tires burning.

It was quite the pop. Shook the windows in our house. We got a hotel room in Duluth for the night. The smell of the burning asphalt is what really gets you. That's what most of the evacuations are for. The noxious smoke is thick and being carried up and down wind.

I got out of than town about 50 years ago; and never looked back. On the couple occasions I brought the family there to attend the wife's family functions, I got this response from my sons: "Thanks for not bringing us up in that town!!"

Geese, rex kinda of harsh,...don't you think?

Harsh? Naw. I lived there. Born and raised, sorta. I ain't got much in the line of good memories. As for me: "you can never go home". I say that as a good thing.

I went to school there with Bo and Luke Duke. They moved to Hazard County to escape the corruption.

In reality, I was not born in Superior. I was born in an ambulance on the old "Interstate" toll bridge enroute to a hospital in Duluth, MN. I now see that as a "sign" from the creator, telling me I did not belong there.

When I left it had a population of about 35k, down from over 40k at it's peak in the early 1900's, and down to less than 27k today. What it lacked in the line of shopping; it made up for in it's count of 103 bars, and more "houses of ill repute" than I can count. That includes the world famous one located at 314 John AV.

I ain't the only one to exit.

Who am I kidding?

Back in the '70's I could foresee things like benzene spills and refinery explosions. Not wanting to do anything conspicuous like the equivalent of building an Arc, I just quietly left.

T-Rex, I too was born and raised there and getting out was the best thing I ever did thirty some years ago. No bad memories but just felt like there is more out there. 314 John Ave. ?? Don’t know anything about that one.

In the mid 70's 314/316 John Av went up for sale. While I don't remember the exact details, it was listed as something like a dozen bedrooms, and a dozen bathrooms.

I knew a plumber who did work there regularly. He said he loved it. The ladies were always super friendly, and he was paid on the spot in cash.

Does the name Edna Kane (Cane, maybe) ring a bell? My understanding was it was a business that didn't discriminate, but, somewhat catered to the merchant marine. I further understood that local LE turned a blind eye, as they believed it's existence was beneficial as it served to keep residents safer.

As an example of how well known it was: I Was at a café over a hundred miles away. The waitress blushed and commented that it seemed weird, but, my tab was $3.14.

Never heard of her, but I know north end had a seedy reputation. Mid 70’s I was a teen living in the county.

Yip North end. I used to work in a warehouse in the north end. Every week I'd cash my check at the Cast A Way bar on Fifth St. The owner, a former prostitute, would subtract my tab from the former week, give me the balance, and open up a new tab for the coming week. Not exactly what you'd call a productive lifestyle.

I still remember the details:

35¢ per shot
Every 3rd one free
Last shot in every bottle free.