San Antonio Refinery Fire - Known Safety Violations At Refinery

Wednesday morning, only a couple of hours following the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama exploded, a San Antonio refinery fire sent a large plume of black smoke to the air. The San Antonio refinery fire began when an 18-wheeler truck being loaded with fuel exploded. The first explosion from the truck in the San Antonio refinery began a chain of explosions that lasted at least 45 minutes.

San Antonio refinery fire nevertheless burning

There were a lot more than 100 firefighters and emergency responders at the San Antonio refinery fire today. Evacuated were all residents within a half mile of the explosion. Hundreds of thousands of dollars could be lost to private cash lenders as well as any financers. The plume of smoke from the fire could be seen from as far as 40 miles away. Given that the San Antonio refinery fire is fuel-based, it will likely burn very hot and for a very long time.

San Antonio refinery explosion started by 18-wheeler

The San Antonio refinery explosion all started with an 18 wheeler truck. The truck was being pumped with fuel on a loading dock when it exploded. This started a whole bunch of explosions in the refinery and started a fire that should burn for many days. Hazmat crews and firefighters were working to shut off the valves that were nevertheless pumping fuel after the fire started.

Before San Antonio refinery explosion, OSHA violations given

Before the San Antonio refinery fire this morning, AGE Refining, Inc., had been cited several times for safety violations. The San Antonio refinery, in 2007, was fined for 13 “serious violations”. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, those 13 violations remain “current”. AGE refining provides jet fuel and diesel to many customers including the US air force, as the only refinery in San Antonio.

Watch reports on the San Antonio refinery fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3-rA9Hl9k&feature=player_embedded

Resources

NPR News

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/texas_refinery_catches_fire_af.html

My San Antonio

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Fire_burning_on_South_Side.html?showFullArticle=y

Kens5.com

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/Reports-of-92876584.html

The Associated Press

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jYkAyfTB-gAvN27Vp6Uy-96rPlcgD9FGS8TG2