Hydrogen gas flashed over and leaked from a truck's tank at an El Cajon business on Wednesday, prompting evacuations from other businesses, residences and schools for two blocks. (John Gibbins/ San Diego Union-Tribune)
Hydrogen tank gas leak, flash-over fire prompts evacuations in El Cajon
Pauline Repard
A fireball of hydrogen gas erupted from a tank, damaging the tank truck and prompting evacuations at several businesses, schools and homes in El Cajon for a few hours Wednesday morning.
No one was injured, and the large tank, used to haul 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen, did not explode, authorities said.
The blast of gas did make a large, explosive noise, officials and one witness said.
However, because of the danger of a blast while gas vented from the tank, employees quickly evacuated from Veridiam, an industrial business where the truck parked and off-loaded the hydrogen, Heartland Fire and Rescue spokesman Mark Casey said.
The truck was backed up to an even larger tank at Veridiam.
About 150 students at Idea Center High School, Chaparral High School and Merit Academy were evacuated to the gymnasium at Grossmont High School to be reunited with their parents, Grossmont Union High School District spokeswoman Catherine Martin said.
She said classes were cancelled for the rest of the day.
Heartland fire dispatchers got reports around 8:10 a.m. of an explosion and fire involving a hydrogen truck on West Bradley Avenue, just south of Gillespie Field. The correct location turned out to be next to Veridiam on Cuyamaca Street, Casey said.
Sheriff's deputies helped people leave businesses and residences within a two-block radius, and Cuyamaca was blocked between West Bradley and Billy Mitchell Drive. Several trolley lines were rerouted during the incident.
San Diego city and county hazmat teams were sent to the scene.
David Hunter, who works in the area, said he heard sound of the gas exploding out of the tank valve.
“It was a pretty good explosion that shook the lower buildings down here,” said Hunter, a maintenance supervisor at a 96-unit condominium complex. He said he though at first that the noise might have resulted from a big traffic collision.
He said he didn’t see smoke in the air when he walked outside. Within minutes, he saw firetrucks, hazmat teams and other emergency response vehicles flooding the area, many of them heading toward the nearby Idea Center.
Fire officials said the liquid hydrogen was being delivered to Veridiam and pumped from the truck’s tank to a tank alongside the business.
Veridiam’s website says it manufactures metal tubing and components used in medical, dental, nuclear and industrial parts. Veridiam is a customer of a chemical company known as Linde.
The truck drivers told fire officials that the gas was venting through a safety valve. A ball of flame damaged only the truck, Heartland Battalion Chief Chris Case said.
“Some malfunction caused the safety valve to release,” Case told reporters.
Crews shut one or more valves at the tank to stop the leak. The threat of danger had ended by 10:30 a.m.
Dozens of evacuated workers sought the shade of trees along Cuyamaca Street. Firefighters who had stopped by said they were trying to find local businesses that would allow them to use restrooms if needed.
Evacuations were lifted in stages.
Representatives from Veridiam and Linde said in an email that operations resumed Wednesday after the fire was contained. A spokeswoman from Linde said the company is cooperating fully with authorities as the investigation continues.
================================
Tanker Filled With Liquid Hydrogen Catches Fire at El Cajon Business Park
The business is located south of Gillespie Field, east of Cuyamaca Street and north of Fletcher Parkway.
By R. Stickney
August 29, 2018
A tanker truck filled with liquid hydrogen caught fire Wednesday in an El Cajon business park, Heartland Fire & Rescue officials confirmed.
Firefighters were called to Veridiam, a manufacturing plant located at 1717 Cuyamaca Street just after 8 a.m. for a report of an explosion.
They found a tanker truck known to be carrying between 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen on fire.
"It
felt like a really small earthquake," Kyle Feliberty said. He works at a
business near Veridiam. "The walls kind of shook a little bit, loud
crash, but it didn't last long like a normal earthquake would."
Schools Evacuated Due to Fire on Hydrogen-Filled Tanker
![[DGO]Schools Evacuated Due to Fire on Hydrogen-Filled Tanker](https://media.nbcsandiego.com/images/620*349/el_cajon_hydrogen_tanker_fire_fix_1200x675_1309033539657.jpg)
Hazmat crew members were making entry into the area just before 10 a.m.
“The
product is being burnt off as it’s venting so there is no hazmat issue
that residents should be concerned about. If you’re sheltered in place,
you should be OK at this time,” said acting Battalion Chief Chris Case.
The
venting process was part of an automatic safety feature on the truck,
Case said. It began while crews were offloading the truck's product.
Schools Evacuated Due to Fire on Hydrogen-Filled Tanker
The fire was contained to the truck and there did not appear to be evidence that the truck exploded, Case said.
Case said he was not told what started the fire.
"The product is flammable and when it's exhausted from a vent there are a number of things could spark a flame," Case said.
It was not clear what the liquid hydrogen was being used for at Veridian. The tanker was delivering it there.
Approximately 150 students from IDEA Center, Chaparral and Merit Academy were moved to Grossmont High School.
Busses
pulled into one of the campuses to load the students for the drive to
Grossmont HS located at 1100 Murray Drive. By 9:30 p.m., a district
spokesperson said all students were removed from the area.
Tanker Truck Filled With Liquid Hydrogen Caught Fire
Fire officials warned nearby businesses and residents to avoid the area for four hours.
El Cajon police officers were also called to help handle traffic.
San
Diego Metropolitan Systems said the Sycuan Green Line was rerouted at
Arnele Station and the Orange Line was rerouted at El Cajon Transit
Center. Commuters using these trolley lines should expect delays.
The
business park is located south of Gillespie Field, east of Cuyamaca
Street and north of Fletcher Parkway. It is situated directly across the
street from Idea Center High School and a block from Chaparral High School.