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SALT LAKE CITY -- Investigators are trying to find out specifically what sparked a fire at a Salt Lake City refinery Wednesday that lit up the sky. They know there was a power failure, a leak and--hours later--a fire.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department wrapped up its investigation at the Tesoro Oil Refinery Wednesday night. It backed up the plant's own fire crews that are specifically trained to fight and investigate refinery fires.
"When we come in, we support them, not the other way around," explained Mark Bednarik, hazmat specialist for the Salt Lake City Fire Department.
As the fireball burned around 9 p.m., smoke was visible for miles.
"Although it was a spectacular view, the threat to the citizens was very minor," Bednarik said.
No one was hurt, but the fire disrupted highway traffic and rail service. Parts of the refinery were evacuated while city firefighters helped the refinery's brigade knock down the flames in a half hour.
"When that ignited, it caused quite a spectacular view. It did consume some trailers and other maintenance equipment," Bednarik said.
Tesoro officials say they know crude oil leaked, and something lit that pool on fire, but they don't know exactly what that "something" was.
Refinery investigators will look for answers, and likely will not call on other agencies because no one was hurt and there was no big chemical release.
Here's what they know: Around 2 p.m. there was a power failure that affected some equipment. Tesoro employees told fire crews that when they started that equipment back up around 9 p.m., crude oil leaked, pooled on the ground, caught fire and spread to a 200-yard radius.
"We're still investigating the reasons for the fire and how that power outage may have affected the equipment," said Russ Jansen, public information officer for the Tesoro company.
It may take investigators a couple of days to determine what caused the leak, and what started the fire.
"We hope the resolution will be quick so there will not be an impact to supply," Jansen said.
Tesoro says the refinery produces gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. The unit that burned will remain out of service until the investigation is done, but the company says it has product in storage, so the fire will not disrupt business.
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Story compiled with information from Jed Boal, Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.
