Incident Report

Subject:                  Billings Xmas Day Refinery Fires   

Date of Email reporting Incident:   Sun 28/12/2008

Report Detail:

Two of the three refineries in the Billings/Laurel area caught fire Xmas day Thursday.

Around 12:30 p.m. Thursday witnesses say they saw an explosion of fire and smoke coming from the ConocoPhillips Refinery in Billings.  Joe Hawley, of Billings, was driving a few blocks away when he heard a loud boom and then a warning signal. "We were coming up 27th street and we heard a loud noise and just about then we looked over and saw the black column of smoke barreling up into the sky with some flames, not much," says Hawley. Conoco Spokesman, Bill Tanner, confirms that the fire started at about noon Thursday in a unit that aids in the production of gasoline, though he says there was no explosion. Emergency response crews quickly reacted and had the fire under control by the time the Billings Fire Department arrived.  The impacted unit has been shutdown, while all other units continue to run. Billings Fire Department responded with three fire engines and one ladder truck, concentrating water in the affected area.  Battalion Chief, Perry McKinney, confirms that the refinery had the fire under when they arrived at the scene.  The BFD supplied backup and a waterline. An all clear was sounded at 2:58 p.m. No injuries were reported and the total cost in damages is unknown at this point, while the cause of the fire is under investigation. Earlier Thursday morning, just after 3:30 a.m., a fire ignited at the Cenex refinery in Laurel. The fire started in the ultra low sulphur diesel hydro treating unit, where diesel fuel is processed.   Cenex Refinery Manager, Pat Kimmett, says the fire was extinguished quickly by the operators and emergency teams.  The CHS crew shut down the affected unit, while all other units have remained open.  No backup was needed by outside sources. No one was seriously injured from the incident, but one employee was taken to Billings Clinic with minor injuries and was released.Kimmett says a thorough investigation of fire has already begun.

Investigations are under way at two Yellowstone Valley refineries that had fires on Christmas Day.

An investigation into the cause of a fire at the ConocoPhillips refinery in Billings may take weeks, but the plant was back to normal operations today, said Bill Tanner, a company spokesman in Houston. And the CHS refinery in Laurel also was making fuel but operating at somewhat of a reduced rate, said Lani Jordan, a CHS spokeswoman based at corporate headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. The ConocoPhillips fire started at 12:20 p.m. in a unit that aids with the production of gasoline. Refinery workers who also are trained as firefighters responded, as did the Billings Fire Department. The unit where the fire occurred is down pending the investigation, but it has not significantly affected operations, Tanner said, and the refinery is "still producing gasoline and diesel fuel."  The investigation has begun. "Our folks will go in and look for an exact cause," Tanner said. Metal from the unit where the fire occurred will be analyzed, a process that can take weeks, he said.  No one was injured in the fire, and the all-clear signal sounded at about 2:56 p.m., he said.  "We very much appreciated the quick and professional response of the Billings Fire Department," Tanner said.  ConocoPhillips also reported the fire to the state. There were no off-site health impacts, and air-quality monitors did not show problems, Tanner said.  In the meantime, the refinery continues to make fuel. Tanner said he did not expect there to be any impact on the marketplace because driving is down nationally. CHS also is investigating its fire and has not yet identified the cause, Jordan said. Refinery officials also were not sure when the diesel unit where the fire occurred will be operational, she added. The CHS fire started at 3:37 a.m. in an area of the plant that makes ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The fire was extinguished by 5 a.m. and did not prompt a call for mutual aid from fire departments in Billings or Laurel. The refinery's fire crews and other employees brought the fire under control.  One refinery employee was taken to a Billings hospital to be checked out and was released. The Gazette received reports of an explosion at the refinery at about 3:30 a.m.