NORTH SALT LAKE — In the wake of Silver Eagle’s recent explosion and closure, nearby residents have expressed both relief and concern over the situation.

“Thank goodness I wasn’t home that day,” said Cara Varallo, who lives one block away from Silver Eagle. “I have a friend who works with me and she has some cracks in her foundation and windows that won’t close. I’m just glad that didn’t happen to me.

“They (Silver Eagle) have been good about contacting us via the mail with insurance information and they did invite all of us to an open meeting the night of the accident,” Varallo added. “I do feel like they’re trying to make it right.”

The explosion was the second accident on the site within the last two years.

“Our neighborhood was closed off for pretty much the entire afternoon and I didn’t get back into my house until nighttime,” Varallo’s neighbor Russell Hansen said. “I do have to say that I never heard anything back from them (Silver Eagle) after last year’s fire, but I am glad they’ve contacted us this time.”

Hansen was one of a few nearby residents who were actually home at the time of the explosion. “I thought that somebody hit my house with their car,” he continued. “I take care of my father here and I’m just glad we weren’t hurt.

“I think they’re taking good steps right now,” Hansen said. “I don’t really think they should close, but I really don’t know what needs to be done. Living so close to something dangerous like that is concerning, but I can’t move anywhere else right now, that’s for sure.”