Thursday, April 2, 2015

40,000-GALLON BIODIESEL TANKS EXPLOSION AND FIRE SHUTS DOWN ROADS, EVACUATES DOZENS, IN STUART, FLORIDA









STUART, FLORIDA

Martin County Fire Rescue extinguished a fire Wednesday at Viesel Fuel, a biodiesel company located on Southeast Dominica Terrace in Stuart.

When fire crews arrived at the scene just before noon, they found four 10,000-gallon biodiesel tanks on fire outside the facility.

Crews immediately evacuated the building and area businesses.

"Our biggest concern was we were not going to be able to contain the fire," Fire Bureau Chief Dan Harshburger said.

He said the top of a methanol tank on the property blew off while crews battled the fire.

Harshburger said sand was hauled in to help create a berm to prevent runoff and crews used foam to put out the blaze.

Port Salerno Elementary School was also evacuated. The school released the following statement:

Due to a fire in the area, we are taking safety precautions and have evacuated your children to Pinewood Elementary. All students are safe. There is no access to Port Salerno Elementary School at this time. The situation may affect traffic to and from our schools in this area. We are asking that you report directly to Pinewood Elementary located off of Willoughby Boulevard. Should you need to contact Pinewood the phone number is 772-219-1602. Thank you. 

Steven Barrett, who works across the street, said he saw the flames, heard an explosion and then ran.

Robert Cusmano was standing outside the biodiesel building when the fire started. He said his car, about 20 feet from the fire, likely melted from the flames.

"A couple of people started running, trying to put it out, and once it started building momentum, then it was just (time to) wait for the fire department," he said.

There were no reports of any injuries, just significant environmental pollution from all that air pollution and fire and leaked diesel.

Southbound traffic along U.S. 1 just south of the scene was tied up while crews rushed to the scene.

Sheriff William Snyder said eight streets were closed. Most were reopened by 6 p.m.

"It's really been a boxing match, the fire against the fire department. The fire has won some rounds. The fire department is now winning," Snyder said.

The cause has not been determined, although this is flammable material (it is a fuel, after all) – it only takes a spark, a source of heat to ignite the vapors. The state fire marshal is investigating.

Firefighters will remain at the scene through the night to monitor the situation.