Oil tank blaze after storm (From Western Telegraph)

Oil tank blaze after storm

Pembroke's Texaco refinery escaped a major blaze on Thursday after lightning is believed to have struck one of the 70,000 cubic metres crude oil tanks.

But the fire was seen as a warning of the escalating dangers arising from the liquefied natural gas developments on the Haven, by Preseli Pembrokeshire Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate Dewi Smith.

"Was it God giving us one last chance to see better ways when, if it is true, lightning struck the terminal?" he asks.

"The facts are that we have an extremely dangerous facility right on our doorstep, which we are about to multiply off the scale and at the same time reduce the capacity of the local fire service.

"I will continue to press for the safety of the LNG developments."

Thursday's fire started when fuel on top of a floating tank roof was ignited. But, fortunately, foam pourers fitted to the tanks were immediately activated.

The fire was quickly detected and the refinery's own fire team swung into action.

They were joined by firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade and the blaze was quickly brought under control.

At one time between 40 to 50 firemen were on the scene.

The incident had uncanny echoes of 1994's major blaze at the refinery.

That was triggered off when lightning storms caused a major process plant upset. Explosions shook the refinery and 14 refinery workers and ten on-site contractors received injuries.

Thursday's fire also took place on the same day as a huge blast hit a BP refinery in Texas, in the United States, killing 14 people.

A Texaco spokesman said: "We can confirm that the fire at the Pembroke refinery was quickly brought under control and extinguished. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is currently being investigated."

He added: "Safety measures incorporated following the fire in 1994 include foam pourers fitted to the tanks. These were activated in this incident to smother the fire with a layer of foam."

Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade divisional officer Harry Webber said: "The foam pouring equipment worked very effectively. Refinery staff acted very quickly and we supported them.

"It was a proven fire fighting operation, which worked well. Thermal imaging equipment was used to check whether the heat in the tank had diminished and we left around midnight."

Assistant divisional officer Pete Brennan said: "There was potential for a serious fire, but it was brought under control and put out within 30 to 40 minutes. The refinery staff did an excellent job. We practice and train together and the benefits showed."