A three-alarm fire broke out a Philadelphia oil refinery early Friday following a massive explosion that sent flames and large pieces of debris into the air
The blaze at Philadelphia Energy Solutions' 150-year-old facility in South Philadelphia started when a vat of butane exploded just after 4 a.m., KYW-TV reports. Firefighters were able to contain the fire by around 7 a.m., but crews were still at the scene, putting out the remaining flames.
Five plant workers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The explosion sent chunks of wreckage hurdling through the air, according to WCAU-TV. Residents who witnessed the explosion and flames posted videos of giant pillars of flames to social media.
"We heard something. We thought it was thunder because it was raining and somebody was out in the back and said the refinery was on fire," an employee told KYW. “A few of us went out back and were looking at it and as we were standing there something else blew up. We moved our cars around the front, and we just stood there waiting what to do, and they finally said everybody just go home. And while we were standing there something else blew up, and we just got out of there… It was kind of scary, you know."
This is the refinery's second fire this month. No one was hurt in that June 10 incident, KYW reports.
