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.