A Liquid Petroleum Gas fire at the Wynnewood Refinery, located in Wynnewood, Oklahoma occurred at 1420 hours central time. The fire is at the hydrofluoric (HF) acid alkylation unit in the facility and within the unit there are 3 cesium 137 low radiation sources.
Local responders issued a 1 mile perimeter evacuation that included adjacent neighborhoods and Highway 77. The all clear was given at 2130 hours once the EPA air monitoring established no release off-site. Adjacent to the HF Unit is a BSNF railway which has been closed until the incident is secure. BSNF officials have joined unified command to provide technical expertise to the railway and additional air monitoring sources. There was 1 individual that was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. No other injuries were reported.
Wynnewood Refinery has established mutual aid with Wynnewood Fire Department, Pauls Valley Fire Department, and Valero Refinery in Ardmore. At its height, 45 responders were on-site. Fire fighting water utilized to contain the fire is supplied from Arbuckle Lake through a gravity pulled water-line. At this time, all runoff is currently being contained within the facility in a retention pond.
Earlier this week, OSHA has been conducting an unrelated PSM complaint inspection from a union on safety concerns. Due to the incident, OSHA has sent representatives to the scene and will further investigate the cause of the incident. Wynnewood Refinery is a RMP / FRP regulated facility.
Small fire continues to burn but remains under control. EPA representatives continue to monitor air quality on site as well as in adjacent neighborhoods. HF monitors indicate low levels of hydrogen fluoride within a 20 feet radius of the remaining fire after fire suppression activities were scaled back. Facility personnel have responded by reapplying a water fog to the area in attempt to control vapors. All other monitoring on and off site indicates air contaminant levels to be at background.
Vapors from the LPG line which were fueling the main fire has been stopped by the successful plugging of the line; however, at approximately 1000 hours, on 14 May 2006, facility workers attempted to install a blind on the damaged LPG line but were unsuccessful do to the presence of concrete in the line.
In addition, runoff water was neutralized and reused for the purpose of firefighting and cooling. Firefighters had been utilizing the facilities fireline reservoir. This was done in an effort to reduce the amount of runoff generated at the site and to preserve the facilities fireline reservoir.
Attempt to install blind will be repeated at an undetermined location up stream nearer to the LPG storage container.
PRP personnel will attempt to install a cap on the remaining leaking lines. If successful, this is expected to halt all ongoing releases.
The accumulator tank associated with the alkylation unit remains with contents and continues to fuel a small controlled fire.
Address fire water collection. Water will be sampled and analyzed for proper disposal by PRP. Due to large quantity of water this issue remains a high priority.
Address other small fires still burning in the unit
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