United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

At approximately 11:35AM on April 27, 2007, lightning initiated a fire at the Wynnewood Refinery.  The refinery is located at 906 South Powell, Wynnewood, OK. Tank 138 containing approximately 50,000 barrels of naphtha was ignited.  No evacuations or shelter-in-place were issued, and no injuries reported.  Highway 77 has been closed do to the incident.  The refinery process was not interrupted and continues to operate normally.  

During the evening a second tank caught fire.  That tank contained approximately 25,000 barrels of diesel fuel.  Both tanks continue to burn emitting large amounts of black smoke.  Last night, the refinery personnel conducted a controlled shut down of the facility.  This was due to electric lines supplying electricity to the refinery being damaged by the fires.  

Fire fighting experts and the RP have determined that there is a minimal chance of successfully extinguishing the fire and have elected to let the fire burn out on its own.  The fire is expected to burn at least another 24 hrs.  Ten municipalities are providing fire fighting aid.  Williams Fire Fighting and Valero Fire Fighting are also assisting the refinery’s fire department.  Fire fighting is focused on cooling adjacent tanks to prevent additional tank fires.

The wind has switched directions and is coming from the north.  The smoke continues to rise vertical before moving in a southerly direction.  There remains very little smoke at ground level.  The EPA contractor initiated air monitoring at 11PM on 4/27/2007.  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate material are included in the suite of constituents being monitored.  They have noted no readings that would indicate that there are immediately dangerous conditions with VOC readings slightly above background.  EPA expects to continue to conduct air monitoring while the fire burns.  Highway 77 continues to be closed adjacent to the facility.  There are no shelter-in-place or evacuations ordered.  No injuries have been reported.

Continue air monitoring.

Develop a water effluent sampling scheme that adequately characterizes water being discharged.