NO INJURIES
REPORTED AFTER EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN COAL-HANDLING SILO AT WE ENERGIES’ OAK
CREEK POWER PLANT IN OAK CREEK, WISCONSIN
January 25, 2015
OAK CREEK (WITI) — A We Energies spokesman tells FOX6
News no injuries were reported after a fire Sunday, January
25th at the Oak Creek Power Plant.
Fire officials say the call came in just before 2:00
p.m.
We’re told there was a fire that has been
extinguished. A battalion chief with the Oak Creek Fire Department couldn’t
confirm the initial report of an explosion. A We Energies spokesman says the
fire started in a coal-handling silo that feeds the newest generators on the
north side of the power plant’s campus.
The power plant is a coal-based plant that operates 24 hours a day.
Fire officials take these types of incidents seriously
because of the large volume of combustible materials inside. About a half-dozen
departments were called in for backup.
Fire protection vents opened during the blaze as
designed to help contain the fire.
“Anytime we’re dealing with coal — coal is a fuel. There
is a hazard associated with it, with the fire fight. As far as it being up — at
an elevated level, you have to grab your equipment, you have to fight that fire
from an elevated area. There’s some techniques associated with that,” Oak Creek
Fire Battalion Chief Joe Pulvermacher said.
A We Energies’ spokesman says there was no disruption of
service to customers during this incident.
