At approximately 1130 hours a petroleum distillate fire started at the loading rack of the AGE Petroleum Refinery located at 7811 South Presa San Antonio, TX 78223. The refinery is located in south San Antonio in an area surrounded by light industrial and multifamily housing. Local authorities ordered a one mile evacuation perimeter.

Fire units from the City of San Antonio Fire Department initially responded and attempted to contain the fire to the area of the tanker truck loading building. Four tanker trucks were located in the loading bays at the time of the fire. The fire spread through all the bays quickly enveloping all four trucks. Because of the intensity of the fire, firefighting efforts were focused on cooling the storage tanks surrounding the area involved and isolating the loading rack from the fuel feed lines that connected the rack to the refinery storage tanks. According to refinery officials, three workers were injured in the incident. 

At 1530 hours, fire officials extinguished the remaining flames after most of the fuel was consumed and the evacuation was lifted. Almost all of the runoff from the fire is being collected and stored in onsite storage tanks for future characterization. A small amount of runoff waters entered the refinery storm water system which eventually empties into the San Antonio River.  Sorbent boom was placed at various locations along the stormwater pathway.   

1.1.2.1 Location

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

EPA OSC Rhotenberry and EPA START-3 contractors mobilized to the AGE Refining Inc. fire in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX  at 1630hrs on 05/05/2010 arriving on-site at 1930hrs.  EPA met the TCEQ representative at the AGE Main Offices located at 7811 South Presa Street. START-3 commenced with perimeter and on-site air monitoring utilizing a Draeger CMS with chips for BTEX compounds, 4-gas meter, Ludlum radiation meter and particulate monitors.  All air monitoring instruments yielded no readings above background.  Site access is limited to emergency personnel due to questions regarding the structural integrity of the loading rack after the fire.  RP Contractors are currently recovering pooled firewater from the incident location with vacuum trucks and transferring it to a 20,000 gallon storage tank located on the AGE Refinery for temporary storage.  The total amount of water applied to the fire is not known at this time.   

EPA is coordinating with the TCEQ to assess the stormwater drainage pathway along the unnamed creek / storm channel which leads to the San Antonio River.  The San Antonio River is approximately 1/8 mile downstream of the AGE Refinery.  EPA and TCEQ will survey along the channel to ensure that engineering controls (booming and safeguards) were effective in preventing the  potential off-site migration of contaminants in the firewater.  Disposal options for the firewater collected in the storage tank are yet to be determined.  The Refinery is without electrical power and according to plant officials all units are isolated and went through a safe shut down process and will remain shut down until the arson investigation is concluded by the San Antonio FD.  The RP and their contractors will continue to stabilize site conditions throughout the night.