2009 Cataño oil refinery fire: Difference between revisions
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The '''2009 Cataño oil refinery fire''' was a [[fire]] that began around midnight on [[October 23]], [[2009]], and extinguished on [[October 25]] at the [[Caribbean Petroleum Corporation]] [[oil refinery]] and [[oil depot]] in [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico|Bayamon]], [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |first= |last= |title=Evacuation from Puerto Rico fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8323569.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=|date=2009-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref> While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to a town in [[Cataño]], it technically occurred within the borders of Bayamon, even though Cataño was more affected by fumes and evacuation. |
The '''2009 Cataño oil refinery fire''' was a [[fire]] that began around midnight on [[October 23]], [[2009]], and extinguished on [[October 25]] at the [[Caribbean Petroleum Corporation]] [[oil refinery]] and [[oil depot]] in [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico|Bayamon]], [[Puerto Rico]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |first= |last= |title=Evacuation from Puerto Rico fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8323569.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=|date=2009-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref> While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to a town in [[Cataño, Puerto Rico|Cataño]], it technically occurred within the borders of Bayamon, even though Cataño was more affected by fumes and evacuation. |
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The initial fire destroyed eleven storage tanks at the facility, but quickly spread to other nearby tanks. The tanks contained [[jet fuel]], [[oil]], and [[bunker fuel]]. The resulting explosion was measured as the equivalent to a 2.8-magnitude [[earthquake]] of the [[Richter scale]].<ref name="bbc"/> The tanks exploded at approximately 12:25 a.m. and could be heard over five miles away and shook windows and doors over two miles away. At some point the flames reached a height of 100 feet (30 meters) above the refinery.<ref name="bbc"/> |
The initial fire destroyed eleven storage tanks at the facility, but quickly spread to other nearby tanks. The tanks contained [[jet fuel]], [[oil]], and [[bunker fuel]]. The resulting explosion was measured as the equivalent to a 2.8-magnitude [[earthquake]] of the [[Richter scale]].<ref name="bbc"/> The tanks exploded at approximately 12:25 a.m. and could be heard over five miles away and shook windows and doors over two miles away. At some point the flames reached a height of 100 feet (30 meters) above the refinery.<ref name="bbc"/> |
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130 [[firefighter]]s, with the support of the [[Puerto Rico National Guard]], responded to the fire. 1,500 residents were evacuated from four adjacent communities.<ref name="bbc"/> |
130 [[firefighter]]s, with the support of the [[Puerto Rico National Guard]], responded to the fire. 1,500 residents were evacuated from four adjacent communities.<ref name="bbc"/> |
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[[Governor of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico Governor]] [[Luis Fortuño]] declared a [[state of emergency]].<ref name="bbc"/> [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] separately declared a federal state of emergency in Puerto Rico, clearing the way for U.S. federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief and authorizing the use of federal funds.<ref name="upi"> {{cite news |first=Andres |last=Martinez |title=Puerto Rico oil fire burns uncontrolled |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/10/25/Puerto-Rico-oil-fire-burns-uncontrolled/UPI-32951256472507/ |work=[[United Press International]] |publisher= |date=2009-10-25 |accessdate=2009-10-25 }}</ref> Fighting the fire has cost the local Puerto Rican government more than $6.4 million, as of October |
[[Governor of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico Governor]] [[Luis Fortuño]] declared a [[state of emergency]].<ref name="bbc"/> [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] separately declared a federal state of emergency in Puerto Rico, clearing the way for U.S. federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief and authorizing the use of federal funds.<ref name="upi"> {{cite news |first=Andres |last=Martinez |title=Puerto Rico oil fire burns uncontrolled |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/10/25/Puerto-Rico-oil-fire-burns-uncontrolled/UPI-32951256472507/ |work=[[United Press International]] |publisher= |date=2009-10-25 |accessdate=2009-10-25 }}</ref> Fighting the fire has cost the local Puerto Rican government more than $6.4 million, as of October 25.<ref name="upi"/> The [[United States Army]] announced that the explosion and fire had closed nearby [[Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico|Fort Buchanan]] until further notice.<ref name="cb">{{cite news |first= |last= |title=Fort Buchanan remains closed due to fire |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=36642&ct_id=1&ct_name=1 |work=[[Caribbean Business]] |publisher= |date=2009-10-25 |accessdate=2009-10-25 }}</ref> |
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Authorities constructed a temporary pipe to [[San Juan Bay]] in order to bring [[seawater]] to fight the fire.<ref name="wp">{{cite news |first= |last= |title= Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/24/AR2009102401693.html |work=[[Reuters]] |publisher=[[Washington Post]] |date=2009-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-25 }}</ref> [[Fire fighting foam]] was supplied from the nearby [[United States Virgin Islands]].<ref name="wp"/> Luis Fortuño announced on |
Authorities constructed a temporary pipe to [[San Juan Bay]] in order to bring [[seawater]] to fight the fire.<ref name="wp">{{cite news |first= |last= |title= Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/24/AR2009102401693.html |work=[[Reuters]] |publisher=[[Washington Post]] |date=2009-10-24 |accessdate=2009-10-25 }}</ref> [[Fire fighting foam]] was supplied from the nearby [[United States Virgin Islands]].<ref name="wp"/> Luis Fortuño announced on October 25 that the fire had been extinguished.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/puerto-rico-fire-extinguished,1012559.shtml |title=Puerto Rico Fire Extinguished |date=2009-10-26 |accessdate=2009-10-26 }}</ref> |
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The Caribbean Petroleum Corporation supplies most of Puerto Rico's oil and gasoline, which is marketed under the [[ |
The Caribbean Petroleum Corporation supplies most of Puerto Rico's oil and gasoline, which is marketed under the [[Gulf Oil]] brand name. Government officials have reported that Puerto Rico has enough fuel and diesel to last for 24 days after the disaster.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news |first=Andres |last=Martinez |title=Puerto Rico Has Fuel Supplies for 24 Days After Fire |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aB0Eiyuq49pY |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |publisher= |date=2009-10-23 |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:40, 26 October 2009
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
The 2009 Cataño oil refinery fire was a fire that began around midnight on October 23, 2009, and extinguished on October 25 at the Caribbean Petroleum Corporation oil refinery and oil depot in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.[1] While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to a town in Cataño, it technically occurred within the borders of Bayamon, even though Cataño was more affected by fumes and evacuation.
The initial fire destroyed eleven storage tanks at the facility, but quickly spread to other nearby tanks. The tanks contained jet fuel, oil, and bunker fuel. The resulting explosion was measured as the equivalent to a 2.8-magnitude earthquake of the Richter scale.[1] The tanks exploded at approximately 12:25 a.m. and could be heard over five miles away and shook windows and doors over two miles away. At some point the flames reached a height of 100 feet (30 meters) above the refinery.[1]
130 firefighters, with the support of the Puerto Rico National Guard, responded to the fire. 1,500 residents were evacuated from four adjacent communities.[1]
Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño declared a state of emergency.[1] President Barack Obama separately declared a federal state of emergency in Puerto Rico, clearing the way for U.S. federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief and authorizing the use of federal funds.[2] Fighting the fire has cost the local Puerto Rican government more than $6.4 million, as of October 25.[2] The United States Army announced that the explosion and fire had closed nearby Fort Buchanan until further notice.[3]
Authorities constructed a temporary pipe to San Juan Bay in order to bring seawater to fight the fire.[4] Fire fighting foam was supplied from the nearby United States Virgin Islands.[4] Luis Fortuño announced on October 25 that the fire had been extinguished.[5]
The Caribbean Petroleum Corporation supplies most of Puerto Rico's oil and gasoline, which is marketed under the Gulf Oil brand name. Government officials have reported that Puerto Rico has enough fuel and diesel to last for 24 days after the disaster.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Evacuation from Puerto Rico fire". BBC News. 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b Martinez, Andres (2009-10-25). "Puerto Rico oil fire burns uncontrolled". United Press International. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ "Fort Buchanan remains closed due to fire". Caribbean Business. 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b "Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot". Reuters. Washington Post. 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ "Puerto Rico Fire Extinguished". 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ Martinez, Andres (2009-10-23). "Puerto Rico Has Fuel Supplies for 24 Days After Fire". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2009-10-25.