TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Fire Department partnered with Holly Frontier Fire & HAZMAT to put out a fire in west Tulsa at AXEL Royal Oil & Grease facility on Nov. 19.
In a statement, AXEL Group CEO Johan Stureson said that the fire started in the "western part of the oil blending unit". However, the cause is still not known.
TFD spokesman Andrew Little said engines got to the scene just before 10 a.m. when much of Green Country could see the fire's massive smoke trail.
The company reported initial assessments show that two oil blending and outdoor base oil storage tanks fueled most if not all of the fire. The company said environmental authorities have been notified.
No injuries were reported and everyone in the area was evacuated, including some neighboring buildings. Charles Page Boulevard was blocked in both directions from Gilcrease Museum Road to 33rd Street for a little over three hours.
Crews were able to gain control of the flames and keep the smoke plume down to a much lower level. By 1:00 p.m., the emergency was canceled. HAZMAT crews stayed on scene applying synthetic foam to prevent any further ignition until 4:28 p.m., Little said.
"You have to err on the side of caution and make sure you have enough (foam)," he added. "Once you start applying foam, if you don't have enough then that fire is just going to spread back to where it was. So you want to be able to completely finish that process."
Nearby Holly refinery also sent fire crews over to the fire with a truck full of retardant foam.
"Anytime you are utilizing foam, you have petroleum products, you have to check the water quality (and) check that it's not getting into the water or anything like that," Little added. "We don't believe that's an issue at this time. But they will be here for some time until they get everything under control and can turn the property back over to the facility."
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