Investigators suspect someone started enormous fire at fuel distribution center in Spokane, WA

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: ED-20070725-12516-USA
Date / time: 25/07/2007 03:32:01
Event: Enviroment Pollution
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Washington
City: Spokane
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:

Investigators suspect someone started an enormous fire at a fuel distribution center that destroyed buildings and sent thousands of gallons of petroleum products into storm sewers and the Spokane River, the fire chief said Tuesday. A day after the blaze rocked Whitley Fuel LLC with several explosions and damaged surrounding businesses and vehicles with its intense flames, the state Department of Ecology tried to assess the contamination Tuesday. "We have no idea how much oil escaped," said Jani Gilbert, an Ecology spokeswoman. Crews were using a vacuum truck to suck oil out of sewers, she said. A helicopter was hired to fly along the Spokane River on Tuesday, looking for pooled pockets of oil, Gilbert said. Crews were also walking along the river looking for oil. Investigators had no suspects in the fire, which did at least $10 million in damage, Fire Chief Bobby Williams said.

Firefighters continued to douse hot spots on Tuesday, and some 55-gallon barrels of fuel exploded in the ruins, Williams said. Specialized trucks from Spokane International Airport and Fairchild Air Force Base had spread foam on the flames. Three firefighters were treated for minor injuries. The fire was extremely dangerous, as the center's contents included gasoline, diesel fuel, racing fuel, motor oil, hydraulic transmission, heavy lubricant oil and other substances. More than a dozen vehicles in parking areas were destroyed. A fuel tank and a semi-truck pulling a tandem double fuel trailer were also destroyed. About 100 firefighters were able to confine the blaze within the area around three main buildings. "The heroics and aggressiveness by the Spokane firefighters cannot be overstated," Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said. "Without their cooperation and professionalism, this incident would likely have turned into a catastrophic event with enormous loss."

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&cid=12516