Subscribe now- call 764-0558 Vol. LXXXIX, No. 35-S The Jichigan DalyT Twelve Pages Ann Arbor, Michigan Ten Cents SA TURDAY WALK-OUT SLA TED, IF BARGAINING FAILS A2 city workers vote to strike 300 flee area gas tank explosion By TIM YAGLE Investigators said yesterday they have not determined the cause of a fuel storage yard fire late Tuesday night that caused the evacuation of more than 300 persons from their homes bet- ween Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Thousands of gallons of propane gas exploded in the Petrolane and Washtenaw Farmer's Oil Co. yards on Carpenter Rd. as a truck driver was transferring liquid propane from his vehicle to a 30,000-gallon storage tank, according to Pittsfield Township Police Lt. Frank Pesta. No injuries were reported. THE INCIDENT marked the second time in less than two weeks that flam- mble gas tanks have exploded in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. Police evacuated area residents, mostly from the nearby Cloverlane apartment complex, to Red Cross emergency centers in the Ypsilanti area. State police allowed the displaced residents to return home after a 30,000- gallon storage tank was drained, ac- cording to state police Detective Sgt. Jon Curtis. SHERIFF DEPT. Commander Charles Anderson said the truck driver, 55-year-old Don Sherman of Findlay, Ohio, was transferring the propane when he entered the truck cab to com- plete some routine paperwork. Propane. gas began seeping out of the storage tank valve and formed a visible cloud, which was then ignited, Anderson said. Authorities said they don't know what caused the ignition that sent flames 200 feet into the air. Curtis speculated the sudden ignition may have been caused by "a pilot light in the area," but emphasized a definite cause has not been pinpointed. He ad- ded ithas not been determined if arson was involved in the blaze. Pittsfield Township Police Lt. Frank Pesta explained that wind blew the flames to the five tanks in the Washtenaw Farmer's Oil Co. yard, which sustained the most fire damage. "They're (the company) pretty well wiped out," he said. WHILE PESTA said the cost of the See AREA, Page 2 3 days left to negotiate By PATRICIA HAGEN WithStaff Reports City workers voted overwhelmingly last night to strike at midnight Satur- day unless the city offers an acceptable contract package before the deadline. A strike would affect most city services except police and fire. Members of Local 369 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) rejected the city's contract offer presented to union negotiators yester- day and voted to walk out unless union demands are met. 'IF I DON'T have a package, we'll go on strike," Local President Roger Knight told the union membership. The walk-out would idle 305 Ann Arbor workers, including refuse, sewage and water plant workers and some city hall staff. Assistant City Administrator Patrick Kenney said last night he was confident the city could maintain essential ser- vices such as sewer and water, but he added that refuse collection would probably be halted by a strike. Parks and recreation, parking, and the city planning departments also would be affected by a strike. "I'm sure we would initially man the essential plants with supervisors and See ANN ARBOR, Page 2 FUEL STORAGE TANKS at the Washtenaw Farmers Oil Co. in Pittsfield Town- ship were sprayed yesterday with a cooling stream of water to lessen the chance of explosions. A chain of explosions ripped through the nearby Petrolane Gas Services Yard late Tuesday night. Gracing the fuel storage yard are objects from an antique shop destroyed by the explosions. Trucker strike sends local prices up By SARA ANSPACH Reports of meat and produce short- ages from Ann Arbor merchants mark the impact of the nationwide indepen- dent truckers' strike, now in its third week. The six smaller area markets sur- veyed have been hit harder by the See related story, Page 5 strike than the two supermarkets queried. Although the larger stores have not yet experienced widespread shortages, both said they expect to be caught soon by the produce and meat crunch if the strike continues. "CHICKEN!" EXCLAIMED Mario Carolo, manager of Carlo Meat market, 407 N. 5th Ave., when asked his scarcest commodity. The strike has impeded poultry-filled trucks, traveling from Alabama and other southern states to Detroit, from where most local mer- chants are supplied. Some stores reported shortages in fruits and vegetables, which also must be brought from the southern states See STRIKE, Page5 AP Photo THE NATIONWIDE STRIKE by independent truckers has prevented many farmers on the west coast from shipping their produce east, creating a glut of fresh produce in California markets. This well-stocked stall is in the high volume open-air Grand Central Market in Los Angeles.