OK Crews Contain Power Plant Fire
Source The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
Oct. 04 -- A fire in an Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. power plant in west Oklahoma City may continue to burn Thursday for an unknown amount of time, but the fire in a tank was contained, firefighters reported.
Firefighters had to keep a safe distance from the fire that caused black smoke to blow to the north and west from 701 N Mustang Plant Road near NW 10 and N County Line. Traffic has been shut down in the area.
The fire burned inside an insulated tank that contained heating oil, glycerol and possibly natural gas, firefighters reported.
The tank holds about 7,000 gallons, so firefighters feared a possible explosion, but no injuries were reported.
Fire Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson said firefighters did not know what was in the tank when they arrived about 7:20 a.m.
"What we had when we arrived was a 7,000 gallon tank that was beginning to catch on fire," Fulkerson said. "And we did not know what the product was in the tank initially."
Fulkerson said while firefighters kept their distance, evacuations were made in a half-mile radius from the fire. Smoke continued to pour from the fire throughout the morning in a southwest wind.
"We're now just going to let this all burn out and it could take from hours to days," Fulkerson said.
Capt. David Macy, fire spokesman, said firefighters firefighters were in a "non-intervention mode." He said there was no time frame on how long it would take for the fire to self-extinguish, but said it would most likely be an "extended operation."
OG&E spokesman Brian Alford said the power plant was shut down after the tank caught fire. Taking the plant offline is not expected to impact the delivery of electricity to any OG&E customers.
Businesses south of the fire on Cooley Drive have been evacuated. Workers at Lopez Foods near Morgan Road have also been evacuated.
Macy said the Red Cross will be responding to the scene and set up a canteen for those evacuated.
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